Lynne of The Rare Bear
Juliet: What brought you to Woodstock?
Lynne Van Name: I first came up to New Paltz from Brooklyln. I had a boyfriend at the time that I used to see there. As soon as I moved upstate, we split up. (laughs) So then I ended up in Rosendale, High Falls, and then into Woodstock. I always loved Woodstock. It was always like bright yellow. Just happy. It always felt happy.
Juliet: What’s your first memory of Woodstock?
Lynne: I used to work at The Bear Cafe, and I worked there for quite a few years. it was a happy fun place. I loved it.I had gotten a job with a public relations firm out of Tillson and I used to have to commute to the city. After I did that for about 2 years, I had enough. (laughing) I said “I need to open my own business!” I couldn’t stand it anymore. That’s how I opened the store.
Juliet: How did you pick this business?
Lynne: I had a friend and we became partners for maybe 3 or 4 yrs. She was from England and she was into teddy bears. We started out with all collectible bears. We opened up over by Maria’s Bazaar…the old Pepper’s Garage. I think we were the first tenants there in November of 1988.Then Juliet decided she was raising a family and didn’t have enough time to be in the store. So we split up amicably, it was fine. She took over the mail order part of the business and I kept the shop. I was there long enough to realize that people change and trends change and I had to change my products. I still have some collectible bears but I brought in the children’s toys and books. It’s not a collectibles market anymore but I still have some.
Juliet: On a side note, how is it having two toy stores in town?
Lynne: Suki and I work hard not to be competitive with each other. We are friends. We have very very little overlap between us and that’s done consciously. It’s a good thing.
Juliet: When did you move to this location?
Lynne: This is a funny story. I had these two little girls who used to come in to the shop all the time and they collected bunnies. They would come in and get little outfits for them, and little sweaters and hats. One day they came in and said “We’re having a bunny wedding. Two of our bunnies are marrying each other and we want you to come.” I said “Okay. Do your parents know that I’m coming?” I wasn’t sure if I was going to show up at someone’s door unexpected. They said “Oh yes, yes,” and they gave me an invitation. I got to their house and there were pews set up. There were flowers and a band. They video taped the ceremony with two stuffed bunnies at the alter. There was food and a wedding cake. I also brought a gift for the wedding couple, a tea set. It ended up being the people who ran the Guild. (The Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild)About a year or two later, someone came in from the Guild and said “We remember that you were very nice at the bunny wedding. We have a space available. Would you like to move in?” That’s how I got here. Who would have known that that would happen? I was at the other end of the building. This part was the Guild Craft shop. When they wanted to be down there next to the gallery, we just swapped spaces.
JL: How wonderful!
Lynne: Isn’t that? I just feel like it was synchronicity, a funny little story. I was happy where I was at Peppers, the Nardi’s were my landlords. They were very nice to me. Ten years at Peppers, ten years at the end of the building, and now about five years here.
Juliet: What has changed since you’ve been in town?
Lynne: I think it’s changed a lot. I think we have a whole new different type of person moving in. A lot of artists have moved to different areas that are more affordable.I think the community…it’s hard to say…its a different community…More people who are up for the weekends. You don’t see too much of them.When I was first in business, IBM was here. IBMers would actually move into the area while they had projects going on. They became part of the community. There were more kids walking around in town after school. That doesn’t happen anymore.
Juliet: What’s your favorite thing about being here?
Lynne: I love my store. It’s always been a happy place and a safe place for me to be. My mom worked here for many many years after she retired I think it was a safe space for her to be in as well. I love the area, it’s small enough that I don’t get lost in the rush.
The Rare Bear Specialty Gifts 34 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY 12498