COUNTRY-THEMED CRAFTS, HOME DECOR
SPECIALTY OF NEW STORE IN KEYPORT
Released: November 7, 2002

KEYPORT, NJ – Country Moments, 50 West Front St., will celebrate its grand opening all weekend beginning on Friday, November 15. The shop specializes in crafts and collectibles with a country theme, including folk art, woodwork, kitchenware, wall décor, candles, country bath, pillows and baskets, dolls and teddy bears.

Owners Deanna Reyes and Willie Chavez, formerly of Brooklyn, relocated to Cliffwood Beach three years ago. Country Moments is the couple’s first retail store.

“We have a good feeling about the area,” says Chavez. “Keyport gives us the vibe we’ve been looking for, with the ferry, commuters, and a lot of people moving into the area.”
The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. “If the first two weeks go well, we’ll stay open a little later, maybe until 7,” Chavez says. “Starting the day after Thanksgiving, we’ll be open until 8 p.m. for holiday shopping.”

Among the store’s holiday merchandise will be many one-of-a-kind, handcrafted items, including lighthouses and other nautical décor. Chavez, 37, says opening the store fulfills a lifelong dream for him and Deanna, 38, who are the parents of a 2_-year-old son, Andrew.

“I had a vision of what I wanted the store to be,” says Reyes. “That vision led me to Keyport, where we found a very positive and warm community. We want to contribute and be a part of that,” she says.

Keyport Business Alliance spokeswoman Kathaleen Shaw says Country Moments will be a welcome addition to Keyport’s retail offerings. “It’s shops like this that offer a special atmosphere that set us apart,” says Shaw.

Reyes says she plans to provide customers with “service that will fit their needs in a hassle-free environment.” Fresh-brewed coffee, tea or hot chocolate will be offered at all times to browsers and buyers alike. “It will be like a home-away-from-home,” says Reyes, “with fragrant aromas, a cozy atmosphere, soft music and friendly sales help.” She says Country Moments will offer an alternative to mall shopping and have “a different mind set.”

Reyes says many of the store’s vendors are craftsmen and artisans who create everything from dolls and furniture to custom-made, handmade soaps and potpourri. “We want customers to tell us what they want to see in the store, too,” she says.

For the grand opening celebration, there will be prizes drawn at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 16, and Sunday, November 17. Chavez says no purchase is necessary to enter in the drawing, and the prizes offered will be valued at $50 or more.

For additional information on Country Moments, call the store at 732-888-2040. For more information on the Keyport Business Alliance, log on to www.keyportonline.com or call Allen Consulting Inc. at 732-946-2711.