Across the train tracks in Carrboro and next to a clothing exchange and purchase boutique, sits a new store with painted iron furniture in the window and an iron bench by the street.
Nested, which opened Aug. 15 without much publicity, features unique gifts for the home, decorative objects, fine crafts, greeting cards, furnishings and conversation pieces at all price ranges.
Jenny McMillan, the store's owner, said there are not enough places to buy special and unique items in the area.
When she considered locations for the store, a mall didn't seem to be an option, so she started looking downtown.
"I live in Carrboro, and I think it's heaven on earth," McMillan said. "A lot of people like to shop locally, and I am giving them something that hasn't been available here for a long time. Downtown Carrboro is a place with a bright future."
McMillan said she is drawn to intimate spaces where she can find items with a history. She has made an effort to connect the buyers in her store with the craftsmen.
"Everything in my store is connected in some way to the craftsman or specific designer," she said. "The items I have for sale are either locally made or made in the United States by small companies."
But some local professionals said they think the store might be overpriced for the area, therefore attracting out-of-town residents as opposed to many locals.
"A lot of people come to see how charming Carrboro is, and they spend a bit more money in Nested than the typical Carrboro crowd," said Jaime Johnston, who works in the building next to the one that houses the boutique.
