Cottage Kind, a retail store that specializes in allowing people to customize their own candles, is coming to Mineola following Wednesday’s Board of Trustees meeting.
Sparkels Brown applied for a special use permit to open the store, which she described in the application as a “retail candles store with workshops and classes,” at 265 Horton Highway.
Brown said that classes will be held from noon to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Classes are usually one hour long, which accounts for 30 minutes to make the candle itself and another 30 for it to dry, where customers can leave the store and go possibly to dinner, or around the village before returning and picking it up. She said walk-ins will be welcomed on certain days, but reservations are also available.
Each trustee called the business a great idea, although Mayor Scott Strauss said he thought it might be too good.
“I hope my wife isn’t watching,” Strauss said jokingly, which was met with laughs from the rest of the board.
Brown said the maximum number of customers at a time is 20, at two tables. Staff on hand will be two people, Brown and her partner, she said.
The idea for Cottage Kind came from traveling to different craft shows on Long Island and building enough of a following where customers told her that they would love to make their own candles, she said.
“I think it’s a great choice,” said Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira. “It’s a great location where there’s parking and your hours offset with the peak of normal businesses. I don’t think you’ll be seeing too many issues.”
Brown said alcohol is not permitted at the moment but said she is in the process of determining whether that is something to pursue.
As for the retail store, offerings include ready-made candles, skincare products and clothing, among other items, according to Brown.
“Thank you very much for choosing Mineola,” Strauss said before the board unanimously approved the special use permit. “It sounds like you’re going to be very successful, and I’m sure I’ll see you there.”
