Houston’s Dockside: Making It Work in Downtown Chestertown

After 22 years in business what’s the secret to Houston’s Dockside Emporium’s success? If you ask owner Kirsten Forney she’ll tell you it’s a combination of location, loyal customers, and great customer service.

“You can truly get personal service when you come and we have huge selections of clothes and accessories,” said Forney. “Some people have even mentioned that they do all of their Christmas shopping with us because we gift wrap everything. It’s a great service that you find in a small town.”

Forney’s daughter Michelle Timmons, who helps her run the store and will one day take over the business, agrees.

Michelle Timmons and mother, Kristen Forney

“Our staff has a lot to do with why people continue to come here. They may know someone who works here and highly values their opinion and that is why they continue to shop with us, we are fortunate to have very good staff,” she said.

The store’s location doesn’t hurt business either. Located at 315 High St. since 1997, Forney moved the business there after previously occupying a space next to the Imperial Hotel on the corner of Queen and High streets.

“That was a really good move because we were able to get more space and be in a much better location, right in the center of town, across from the park, it’s just a really nice spot for business,” she said.

Although Chestertown is notorious for its small retail shops and unique businesses, Houston’s Dockside Emporium surely stands out along High Street.

“The windows are wonderful and a big asset to our location. We are sure to change the window displays every week. What makes us unique would have to be that we are probably the biggest clothing retailer in Chestertown and we try to cater to different price ranges, not just high end. We try to carry price ranges to satisfy a range of customers and their needs,” said Timmons.

Owning a business has not always been a desire for Forney. Her late husband originally wanted to start the business as a nice hobby for retirement and used his creativity to set everything up. At that time the merchandise consisted of everything nautical, from boat shoes and equipment to hobby supplies complete with a model railroad. However, not long after opening the business in 1989 he was hit with an illness and passed away when Forney was only 48 years old.

“I had to figure out what to do with the rest of my life and I knew I could not live off of the current business so I was fortunately able to expand. On 200 High St. I added about 40 percent more space to the building. That made things do-able and I could see a future there. Then when we moved to our current location that has made all the difference in the world. I discovered you can make a decent living from a small retail store,” said Forney.

After the expansion and change of location, the store took a different direction into women’s clothing and accessories, as well as gifts with original flair and a small men’s wear corner, precisely what Houston’s currently carries.

The name of the business has stuck since its humble beginnings. Houston was the last name of Forney’s late husband and Dockside Emporium was in reference to all of the nautical supplies and clothing that were initially sold there. “Now the name doesn’t fit so well,” said Forney. “I struggled with it for a little bit, but I realize it is not good business to change the name.”

Even after all these years Forney continues to love what she does. “I don’t see any of it as an obstacle, you are tied down, but since my daughter has been involved full time she has carried a lot of the responsibility with me. I work on flex-time and I have fantastic staff so I can be away and not have to worry about things. One of the biggest hurdles is when everyone wants off at the same time, I end up working and so does my daughter. It rarely happens, but it does happen. Christmas Eve for example, I would love to have Christmas Eve off, but I honestly haven’t had Christmas Eve off in 22 years,” she said. “I love owning my own business, I really do. It’s a good feeling being independent and very gratifying that we have been able to make a living off the business in a small town.”

Stores like Houston’s Dockside Emporium are the gems of Chestertown, and part of why the town is beloved by locals and tourists alike. With continued service for years to come, Houston’s is sure to always be thought of as the shop with the beautiful window displays, friendly faces, and a legacy of true small town hospitality.