Poor Richard’s Rich in Eclectic Tastes

You might not find Ben Franklin sipping grog behind the hutch, but Poor Richard’s—a wink to the owner’s name and the cost of doing business— is still a nod to the stout colonial entrepreneur and printer of the popular Almanack. It fits. After all, Chestertown has priors as far as amplifying its links to colonial history. The Tea Party comes to mind.

This Poor Richard’s, however, exists on the reanimated 300 block of High Street, and, along with Bloomin’ Wild Florist and JRs, is helping to transform the area into a cluster of lively businesses by adding an upscale furniture, art and gift shop that defies any easy description.

Richard Keaveney and James Brown, both of Philapdelphia, have visited Chestertown over the years and believe that the downtown area is on the cusp of change, and want to participate and help lead the effort to make Chestertown a destination spot for people exploring the Eastern Shore.

“Poor Richard’s is an experiment,” Keaveney says. “My good friends, Carla Massoni and Jay Yerkes helped inspire us to open up this shop. At the end of eight months we should have a fairly good idea about the kinds of things people want us to offer. Then we’ll make a decision about how to continue forward.”

Keaveney looks forward to brainstorming with other retailers about how the town might attract more attention. “Things like the National Music Festival are key ingredients to making this wonderful town even more destination-worthy and I’m sure there are other innovative ideas we can share and promote,” he says.

Both owners continue to work other jobs. Keaveney, an investor,  now lives full-time in Chestertown while Brown continues to manage his suite of salons in Philadelphia. While they are away, Ron McCracken, formerly of Georgetown Antiques, Cross Patch Antiques and the Kerns Collection, will manage the shop. “We’re in good hands with Ron at the helm,” says Keaveney.

Keaveny and Brown have collected art, antiques and furniture over the years and are furnishing the shop with many of their own items. “Some might call this a ‘fancy garage sale,’” Keaveny says.

But there could be a little separation anxiety. As a customer admired a portrait of a Venetian canal, Brown whispered to Keaveney, “I really don’t want to part with that one.”

The storefront windows offer more than a hint at Keaveney and Brown’s ‘urban chic’ interests. Philadelphia artist Warren Muller’s luminescent ceiling sculptures —two in the front windows and one suspended over a multi-leaved, parquetry round table—are perplexingly majestic and otherworldly, both in size and complexity.

What goes well with visionary hyper industrial repurposing? How about a giant gold leaf framed mirror and a sleigh bed? Or a Sevres porcelain vase? Or a Zulugrass bracelet?

For all of its diversity, nothing seems out of place at Poor Richard’s and it all seems illuminated by a sense of humor.

In fact, every customer entering the shop will be greeted by sign reading, “Nothing Over A Million Dollars.”

 

Poor Richard’s, 321 High St. Hours are Friday, 11:00 am to 6 pm; Saturday, 10:00 am  to 5:00 pm and Sunday, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. 410-778-7960

 

 

That’s a relief, at least to me.