Ciara's Irish Shop
Nestled
in Old Town is Ciara’s Irish Shop, located at Second and E Streets.
The
business is a destination spot for customers from all over the U.S. Opened in
1978,the original store carried primarily hand-knit Irish Fisherman sweaters.
Eventually, other merchandise which included kilts, cashmere and wool capes and
other clothing, food items and small souvenirs was available and this made it almost
exclusively an Irish shop. Over time,
select merchandise from other countries was added, including Geiger of Austria
(boiled wool coats and jackets with matching accessories) and unusual items
from Australia (possum sweaters and scarves) plus fine wool blankets from
England and Scotland, and other items from Wales, Denmark, and Canada.
In 2004,
the store’s General Manager CC O’ Brien Cree bought the business and renamed
it Ciara’s Irish Shop. Ciara is CC’s youngest daughter’s middle name. CC
further enhanced the store’s selection by including high quality clothing from around the world. This includes merchandise from St.
James from France, Magashoni of Italy, and Dale of Norway. Ciara’s Irish Shop is now nationally regarded
as the premier source for exquisite men’s and women’s clothing, finest quality
blankets, throws, accessories, including Solvar jewelry, Heathergems (beautiful
and unusual brooches, earrings, and other items made from the stems of heather)
as well as fine fragrances. Ciara’s is also the place to find highest quality
Irish teas, Scottish shortbread, small linens such as linen handkerchiefs, and
other select gift items.
CC ventured into being a local business owner
because she loved what she was doing and her family background included running
a business.” My dad was self employed most of my life and I was trained by
my parents to run businesses so this was natural for me.”
CC
feels one of the challenges of owning a business in today's economy, especially
in Humboldt, is trying to keep the locals shopping here while still
having a solid tourist business. CC deals with this by “molding my
business to serve the local community and to give as much back to the community
as I can. It has been a tough economic atmosphere for the last 3 1/2 to 4
years but I always keep quality my number one priority in the shop”.
CC has
made many lifelong friends through the shop.
She moved here from Willows, California in 1987. “ I do believe I
have some of the most wonderful customers and feel very blessed to have decided
to move to, settle, raise my family here Humboldt County”.
CC is
involved with Humboldt Sponsors and Rotary and is a member of "the Ladies of
Second Street". The ladies are all Old Town business owners. They donate
5% of all their sales for the first week of December to local charities. CC
donates regularly to churches, schools, organizations and a variety of local
causes because she believes in giving back to the community.
From more information, call
(707) 443-0102 or email irishshopeureka@msn.com
and also check out the store’s Facebook page.