Natick Artist Opens 'Dream' Store — With Pandemic Strategy

NATICK, MA — It's not easy to open a business during a pandemic. But Natick artist Eujin Kim Neilan is doing it — and she has a strategy to keep going.

Last Wednesday, Neilan opened her Uni-T gift shop along Court Street in a former picture framing shop. But the store — which offers items like clothing, jewelry and home goods made by Neilan and other New England artists — is more than just a place to shop. The space doubles as Neilan's art studio, and a base for her online store.

"It's not just a retail shop, it's my studio, where I create my work and ship nationwide," she said.

Neilan began her career as a children's book illustrator. But in 2010, she began making T-shirts and selling them at the Natick Farmer's Market. The shirts were a hit, so she opened a gift shop at the Natick Mall.

But after seven years, Neilan began to feel strained by the long hours at the mall. She closed the gift shop and moved her screen printing business to a studio in Lowell, where she focused on growing her online store.

In late 2019, the Natick Center Cultural District approached her about the vacancy left by the Baldwin Hill Framing store's closing. Neilan saw it as an opportunity to have her combined studio and store in one place (and to get rid of her commute to Lowell).

"I wanted to be here," she said. "This is my community, it's where my children grew up, and the people were so supportive, especially the Natick Center Cultural District."

And with the pandemic bearing down on the state, Neilan would need as much support as she could get. She finalized the deal to move into the space right around the time the state began to shut down. Every aspect of opening the store took longer due to various pandemic-related shutdowns, she said.

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Neilan's approach to the business has also been shaped by the pandemic. For the first week the store was open, she was open by appointment only — a feature she plans to continue every Tuesday. The front window of the store features 12 paintings by local artist Laurie Simko depicting essential workers like nurses and doctors.

"There are so many healthcare workers in Natick, and I wanted to express my gratitude by featuring this work," she said.

Neilan says that she is worried about what the next few months will bring. Coronavirus cases have risen sharply in nearby communities like Framingham and Dedham. Health experts predict an especially tough winter as cold and flu season enters the mix, and with a coronavirus vaccine still not ready.

But if the Uni-T storefront has to close to customers, Neilan will still have her studio and her online business, a defense against the uncertainty of the pandemic era. And, she'll also be realizing a longstanding goal.

"It's always been my dream to make and sell in one place," she says.

Uni-T is located at 8 Court St., Natick, and is open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The appointment-only shopping on Tuesday does not require a purchase.