Cassandra Cyr, owner of Hilltown Chic at 24 School St. (HILLTOWN CHIC PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – Hilltown Chic, a new shop at 24 School St. in Westfield, offers unique gifts and home décor just in time for last minute shoppers.
Owner Cassandra Cyr opened her doors Dec. 15. While it may seem like a risk to open a new storefront right before Christmas during a pandemic, she said it just seemed right.
“It was definitely a huge risk to do this right now, and almost everyone said I was crazy, but I had a vision of exactly what I wanted to do,” said Cyr, who wanted to open the shop last January but COVID, among other things, put her dreams on hold.
A longtime crafter, Cyr worked as a car sales manager when she decided it was time to take the leap and make her hobbies her career.
“I was a sales manager at Curry Nissan and loved the people I worked with, and learned so much from Scott Hubbell,” she said. “It was the hardest day ever when I left. This dream was just pulling at me so hard I made the jump in August. I switched jobs briefly — maybe I doubted myself for a moment – but in October I said ‘that’s it, I know I can do this even in 2020.’ I’m going to make people smile!”
Her handmade products do make people smile, especially her humorous take on life that is reflected in her decorative signs.
Hilltown Chic has a rustic, comfortable atmosphere. (HILLTOWN CHIC PHOTO)
“I have a goofy sense of humor and really wanted to bring that to the shop,” said Cyr. “I also carry some hilarious home and personal accessories. I love to laugh and have fun, and it makes me really happy to see my customers having fun and laughing in the store. Especially in these times it is important to me to lift people up.”
Many of Cyr’s offerings are made from wood, as well as metal, glass and rope that she repurposes into beautiful home items.
“I hand make all the frames and paint all the wooden signs and anything marked Hilltown Chic Custom in the store,” she said. “I etch my own glass and put my own fun sayings on them. I will have a better stock of blank signs, glasses and other items in the next few weeks to offer custom items to customers that they can design and even paint themselves. I will always have something fun to keep the community involved and having fun.”
The Blandford resident said she always loved repurposing things and in 2013 won a contest by Eco Builders in Springfield for transforming the inside of a bar using all reclaimed items.
Many of the custom creations at Hilltown Chic have a humorous take on life. (HILLTOWN CHIC PHOTO)
“A few years ago I turned my old grape arbor that was falling down into a beautiful she-shed,” Cyr said. “Then I started turning furniture and random items into great shelving and artwork for homes. I have always been busy creating something since I was a kid. I never realized I was good at decorating until the she-shed went crazy online, this is really what started the whole idea.”
Cyr also had the idea to offer space to other local artisans.
“I wanted to make sure that other local small businesses could have a chance to expand where they were selling and bring it to Westfield,” she said. “I have partnered with Hadley Mills, Visionary Designs Collaboration, Bourbon Born Co, Hello Coaster Co, and More Than Motivation Co. Everyone is local and has amazing talent. I have a couple more coming in so people can shop their products in person.”
Finding the right location was a matter of taking a turn, literally.
“I looked at a space in Agawam and found a few in Westfield, but it isn’t very easy to find commercial spaces online. I cut down School Street and saw the sign. It was late so I went down the next day and called and peeked in the windows,” she said.
What she saw didn’t exactly inspire her, but the space was the right size, and she knew she could turn it into something that would bring customers in and showcase her products.
“I wanted to create a space that is fun and comfortable, with a natural chic twist,” Cyr said.
She said she is happy Hilltown Chic found a home in Westfield.
“Living in Blandford, I love seeing all the [Westfield] community events pre-covid. Someday they will be back and I wanted to be a part of such a wonderful community,” she said. “I love supporting great causes and community events. I have some items coming in this week that 100% of the proceeds go to the great cause Unify Against Bullying. I couldn’t be more excited to help support such a great cause. I am also excited to support other groups and the great community of Westfield.”
Current hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with private shopping from 6 to 8 pm by appointment for “anyone with underlying health conditions, or who would just prefer private shopping until after Christmas.
“I want to make sure people feel safe and welcome.”
