Member Highlight: Elena Gustafson, owner of Magpie & Tiger
(photo of Elena Gustavson and Heather Hurlbert, Store Manager)
Tell us about your store and how you chose its name:
Magpie & Tiger is inspired by my mother's telling of stories to my sister and I when we were young. She couldn't read or write very well, but it never stopped her from sharing folktales and stories told to her by her mother, although I suspect she made up stories too! Korea has a long history of oral storytelling and folktales were primarily used to impart lessons to young children, which my mom definitely did, but some of the stories were amusing, silly, and even satirical. When I became a young adult, I learned to appreciate more and more the rich culture I shared with my mom, and embraced every opportunity I had to relate to Korea and Korean culture through food, language, and lore. The story of how Magpie helped a human outwit Tiger is political, tongue-in-cheek, and uplifting - an old story that found its way into many forms of art, and has become a favorite of mine over the years. I have a retelling of it on our website.
Our little shop is a little bit of everything, hence I call us a "modern mercantile". But, our main offering is a wide array of stationery, and desktop tools and accessories. We are also building out our stock of vintage desks, chairs, and small finds mostly mid century modern, but also some arts and crafts period too. On the other side of the store, we carry carefully curated gifts for the home and garden - gorgeous candles, wool blankets, small cement planters, art prints, and more.
Probably the most unique thing we sell though, is our array of non-alcoholic spirits and beverage offerings. I want to offer something a bit more polished for folks who are either sober all the time, or some of the time; something as fun and sophisticated as the rest of our beer and cocktail scene in Vermont. So alongside some high quality bar tools and glassware, we offer non-alcoholic spirits, beers, and bitters - each one chosen either because I already love it, or it is highly rated by professional bartenders and chefs.
What do you like about Montpelier?
Montpelier is such a lovely and walkable community. something that distinguishes it from many other towns and cities in the United States, including here in Vermont where desirable "rural-ness" often requires driving to stores, work, schools, and more. The town and its residents' commitment to small businesses and small business owners makes our downtown particularly special and unique - every shop, cafe, and eatery has its own personality plus at least one real human behind it that has a genuine stake in its success. After both the pandemic, and last year's flood, it's uplifting to see how Montpelier's downtown has roared back to life and opened for business - to be a new shop that can add to that message feels particularly special and exciting.
Link to story behind naming the store: Magpie & Tiger.