Everything displayed in Root’d, a home furnishing and accessory store located on Main Street, is hand-picked by owner Melissa Crotty, a business practice frowned upon by those closest to her.
Despite the warnings, Crotty has been running the business like that for years – because it works.
The transplant, originally from Ohio, set roots in October 2011 when she opened business at 577 Main St. This month, Crotty branched out across the street to a new location at 596 Main St., four times the size of the former space.
The young interior designer offered a large selection of home accessories at the old location, but with adding floor space, is able to dabble more in home furnishing – her passion.
“We offered interior design and home furnishing services at the old location, but it was hard to show items to customers without having them in house,” Crotty, said. “Now people can come in and sit on the furniture, feel the fabric and see the quality of the hardwood pieces. I don’t buy anything I haven’t sat in or touched.”
Walking into the new location, items ranging from willow branch chandeliers, hand-blown glass, reclaimed wood decor, which was found at the old location, is still there. With nearly 3,000 more square feet, an eclectic variety of furniture is showcased on the store floor.
“You can find other stores like this in the area, but because of our individual selection process we are one of a kind,” Crotty said. “Everything in the store I would put in my own house and if we don’t have what you want, we’ll find it.”
Equipped with an upstairs showroom, furniture that was normally browsed over through a catalog or the computer can be experienced firsthand by customers. A design room filled with an array of fabric makes any furniture found in the store customizable, Crotty said.
The move wasn’t difficult, according to the businesswoman, or not as difficult as the last.
In 2009, shortly after opening her first store in Cincinnati, she packed her car and headed west.
According to Crotty, after visiting Park City, she knew she couldn’t live anywhere else. Crotty sold everything she owned and took a job at Elegante, a retailor located on Main St., for nearly two years.
With support from the owner there, she decided to take a risk, and officially set her roots in the area by opening her own store. The owners of Flight Boutique subleased the 577 Main St. location to her.
“I came out here on vacation and fell in love with the area,” Crotty said. “I went home and put everything on sale, shut the doors, and moved out here with my dog. The store in Ohio was only open for nine months, but I felt like I was supposed to be out here.”
The new location has more space than needed, which is okay, because she doesn’t plan on going anywhere, she said.
“Business has been good since the beginning and I don’t see it changing anytime soon,” Crotty said. “I am excited we have been able to grow so I can operate the business the way I originally intended.”
577 Main St.
Monday – Thursday 11-6
Friday, Saturday 11-7
Sunday 12-6
435-214-7791