Bonnie and Scott Cook plan to open their fourth downtown Chelsea store, Kitty Face–featuring new and vintage children’s gifts and toys–on November 11. They’ve been renovating the space since 2015, when they purchased the former Chelsea Village Hardware with Pam and Bill Conn. The Conns have since opened two shops in their half of the building: Mule Skinner Boots, which relocated from down the street, and Wines on Main.

“It’s worth the wait,” says Bonnie of the long-running remodel. “I think we’ve created a space that will be as fun for the shopper as it is for the person who’ll receive the gift.”

Scott did virtually all the work on the 3,000-square-foot store, as he had on the Cooks’ three other downtown shops: the Potting Shed, Violet & Moss, and Twigs. The original high tin ceilings are now fully exposed and painted gold, with the plaster chipped away by hand to reveal the original brick walls. He created a vestibule at the main entrance, installed an elegant chandelier, and added two hues of blue paint as well as flooring with an “old pine” look. In the back, there’s no sign of dirt and grease in the spot where the hardware store’s lawn mowers were stored and repaired. “It is perfection,” says the Cooks’ daughter, Ashley, the mother of three young kids, each of whom has a role in the new shop.

Three-year-old Portia, back from preschool and wearing a purple princess gown, leads her mother, Ashley, and grandma, Bonnie, from the Potting Shed on a recent afternoon to “go see Papi” at Kitty Face, where he’s working on its finishing touches. Portia specializes in the princess and tutu merchandise. She’s also the official “toy tester,” says Ashley, who explains there will be a section of the store for kids to play with and demonstrate merchandise.

Her twin eight-year-olds also have special interest areas: Hudson is the “candy expert” and unloads the candy pallets when they’re delivered (popular novelty candies sold at the Potting Shed will also be at the new shop). Landry is the stuffed animal buyer and will run her namesake stuffed animal business in the store, featuring Ty Beanie Boos and Warmies Cozy Plush, scented stuffed animals designed to be warmed in the microwave.

Portia turns on a boom box at the store and twirls around to the music as Scott points out the changes he’s made. “It’s in our blood, I think,” Scott says of his drive to build things. “We’re all kind of workaholics. I know lots of people like that–they want more out of life, and they thrive on it.”

Like the grandkids, each of the older family members has a niche: “Ashley is good at displaying and organizing and talking to customers,” Bonnie says. Ashley says her mom has a gift for “finding items and visioning.” Bonnie says Scott’s talent is “creating the space and handling the finances.”

In addition to a basement full of merchandise waiting to be stocked–including soft figures from Jellycat of London and Hape wooden toys from Germany–they’re moving their entire second floor of baby gift inventory from the Potting Shed to the new store. There will be gifts for the new mom–such as soft shawls and jewelry–and for grandmas and favorite aunts too.

The Cooks’ aunt Velma, who recently passed away, is one inspiration–a gift giver who never had kids of her own and “always made a statement.” Bonnie says when her son Ryan was born Velma carried a humongous plush dog into the hospital room; Kitty Face can provide similarly dramatic gift givers with a giant plush dog from GUND. There will be small items, too, like hair clips and earrings, as well as fifty-cent and dollar items for the kids to buy. Trendy birthday gifts, including slime and stickers and “squishies” and “thinking putty” will also be available.

Bonnie and Ashley spent two years collecting the store’s Fifties and Sixties toys and decor–pink toy fridges and ovens, wooden doll cribs with vintage decals, Fisher-Price toys, and Christmas items from light-up blow-mold Santas to tiny artificial trees. “Antiquing is our therapy,” Bonnie explains. “Ashley and I go for a day trip on the weekends … We have so many one-of-a-kind pieces, and when they’re gone, they’re gone.”

Bonnie notes that many Potting Shed customers come from out of town and even out of state to shop–one family from Kentucky makes several trips a year. She hopes Kitty Face will develop its own fan base. “If you need a gift and want it to be special,” she promises, “it’s worth the drive.” Because she’s worked for a dozen years with suppliers and wholesalers, she adds, she’s able to get “the cream of the crop” and “things you can’t get online.”

When one of her employees suggested it may take two weeks to set up the displays at the new shop, Bonnie assured her it would take about three days and recalled the time the family worked through the night until dawn to open a store on time–eventually collapsing on the floor from exhaustion.

“We’re a hard-working family and love what we do,” Ashley agrees. But after this renovation, Scott says, he doesn’t have plans for more. He’d like to spend more time with the grandkids and figures maintaining four properties will give him enough to do.

Kitty Face, 106 N. Main, Chelsea, 475-0700. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (open later some Fri. & Sat. and around the holidays), Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.