Four generations away from one of the founders of the Woolworth chain, I was born in New York City in the sixties, then lived much of my childhood in the south of France, where my mother’s family was from. My growing up in the south of France turned out to be a great source of inspiration, though I certainly didn’t realize it at the time. Only much later as I started working on the concept for my store, did it become obvious how influenced I was and still am by the lifestyle I experienced there. My grandparents lived near the charming village of St.Paul de Vence in a house with a classic red-tiled roof, cistern outside the kitchen and a huge fig tree in the garden. The overall affect was one of warmth and simple elegance. They also lived a lifestyle where they made the best use of all their resources in their home and garden. They composted, a practice which I didn’t fully understand what that was at the time. They also brought their own baskets to the market and bought locally whatever was in season. Hardly anything was wasted and they taught me how to take pride as well as find pleasure in doing simple tasks around the house and garden.

Summer trips back to the U.S. influenced me in a different way. Every year I’d spend two months on my father’s family’s property in the lake region of Maine. It was there I developed an appreciation for New England’s version of simplicity. Sitting on the front porch, I could look out over the fields to the lake, a view that captivated me as much as anything I’d ever seen on a museum wall. More importantly, Maine taught me a reverence for nature. As a young girl I loved to collect wildflower seeds, watch dragonflies dance and explore the treasures that can be uncovered by a walk through the woods.

At eighteen, I moved from France to New York City and it was only then that I became aware of my family’s real legacy. I discovered that many people had fond memories of the Woolworth stores on their Main Street. They loved sharing their remembrances with me and a real affection still existed for what the store had been back in its heyday.

Here I am now, many years later, having moved to Los Angeles and becoming an even more dedicated nature girl, and living a sensible and eco conscious lifestyle. Living in Southern California and meeting many avid environmentalists has added a new dimension to my own personal style.

It has also led me to a vision of going back to my roots and creating a virtual store focused on green products. Also, like so many others, I’ve discovered the convenience and ease of shopping at home. With that in mind, what better way to bring Woolworth’s into the new century than an online store that offers a wide selection of the best organic, non toxic, biodegradable, recyclable, energy saving, water saving, and practical products on the market. I have spent the last three years researching the Green lifestyle, the market in the U.S. and around the world. The items that I have selected from this ongoing search are things that we all use in our everyday life, products which you’re not likely to find at your local shopping center.

Maybe it’s those summers in Maine and those visits to St.Paul de Vence but I have always enjoyed surrounding myself with things that have an innate authenticity. I often refer to myself as a curator, because I like finding special things and interesting information. I like the basics. I respect tradition but I’m also a progressive and an optimist. I think good ideas deserve a second life and I believe with a little updating, an old-fashioned Woolworth General Store can serve a new set of customers and become much more than just a fond memory.