In the September “Live Local” columnist Erin Moyer offers up interesting tidbits about several neighborhood business. Here’s an excerpt about The T Shop in Lakewood shopping center. If you’re one of those (sickos) who starts your holiday shopping in September, this needs to be on your radar:
Lori Trent’s tenure in retail began 20-plus years ago after stepping in to help her husband, Matthew Trent, a premier jeweler and jewelry designer, manage his business (matthewtrent.com). About five years ago, Lori Trent got the retail bug and opened The T Shop in the corner of a room at her husband’s store in a 100-year-old house in Uptown, where she could sell oddities and unique gift items. A few years later, after hosting a private sale in her Lakewood home that resulted in “the best single day sales ever,” she told him: “That’s it — I’m opening my own store.”
Trent opened a second T Shop (T for Trent) a little over a year ago at 1911 Abrams Parkway. The specialty shop is filled with candles, handmade jewelry, clothing, books and cards, and it even has a kid’s corner and a design area in back where Trent can indulge in a favorite pastime, putting together fresh floral arrangements, which have become a popular purchase for many customers. Trent is gearing up for fall book club meetings, which will be on occasional Friday nights. “People can stop in to the shop to see what books we’re reading, choose one or more, or none, and come up to the shop to enjoy wine and conversation,” Trent says. “Reading the books is definitely not critical or required to join us for the evening.” Book club selections are available for purchase at The T Shop. Visit The T Shop’s website, thetrentshop.com, for more information. The shop is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. —Erin Moyer
