THE NEST Vintage/Contemporary Furniture & Home Decor store in Old Town Battle Ground recently saw a change of ownership. Janell Johns took over the shop this October. Nest currently houses 13 vendors selling a variety of items, from furniture and collectibles to art photography and more.
Battle Ground resident Janell Johns never thought she would end up buying the Nest Vintage/Contemporary Furniture & Home Decor store in Old Town Battle Ground where she was a vendor. However, this October, she ended up purchasing the shop and became the new owner.
“I started as a vendor exactly a year earlier when a coworker told me how unique and fun it was being a vendor at the Nest,” Johns said. “I have always enjoyed garage sales, estate sales and picking in general to find that awesome cool piece or bargain. Being a vender lets me be creative and combine treasure hunting, my love of repurposing, decorating and organizing. Purchasing Nest from LaLonie and Jim Walker and becoming the new owner of the Nest is allowing me to combine what I love doing with my business, so they say if you’re doing what you love success will follow.”
Currently, Johns said she has 13 vendors selling items at Nest. She said they sell an eclectic array of items from furniture to hand-painted porcelain ornaments. She said they sell vintage, of course, along with collectibles, art photography and modern home decor. There is also an outdoor area that has yard art and unique gifts like hand-painted rocks, planters and more.
“We have a new area in our store I call the ‘man cave’ with vintage neon signs and a variety of unique treasures,” Johns said. “The vendors at Nest are very talented and creative with a neverending supply of treasures. If we don’t have what you’re looking for you can leave your name and what you are looking for on our ‘in-search-of board.’ Several of the Nest vendors do beautiful custom furniture pieces and are happy to work with customers to get them what they need.”
Johns said she sees nothing but success for Nest vintage and all the vintage stores in Battle Ground. She said Battle Ground vintage stores are supportive of each other and are a destination for shoppers, especially on the First Friday of each month. Nest is one of several vintage stores in Old Town Battle Ground that participates in First Friday events each month.
As the new owner of Nest, Johns said she also plans to have the store very involved in the community. She said they will have special needs students do job shadowing and and volunteering at the store a few days each week. She also plans to continue to special recognitions of Battle Ground citizens like Elsie Sonntag, who was just honored on her 103rd birthday with a cake and pet food drive because Johns said she lives on her own, loves animals and feeds stray kitties.
Nest will have some upcoming events over the holiday season, including a visit from Santa Claus Sat., Nov. 29. Families can visit the shop and take photos with Santa for free with a donation to the store’s canned food drive.
Johns grew up in Battle Ground and she said her parents, Larry and Beverlee Gaylor, really inspired her to love the city and community she lived in. Johns and her husband, Terry, have two sons who both graduated from Battle Ground High School – Kyle, 27, and Aaron, 25. Johns works at Prairie High School as a special education assistant and has spent the last 20 years working for Battle Ground Public Schools.
“I’m able to follow my dream of operating Nest by having the wonderful support of family, friends and fabulous vendors who volunteer hours at Nest to allow me to continue to be at Prairie High School, a job I love,” Johns said. “I believe is supporting the schools and the community.”
Nest is located at 619 SE 1st St., Battle Ground. Store hours are currently Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m., with the exception of First Fridays when they are open until 8 p.m. The store is also occasionally open on Sundays and will be open more on Sundays during the spring and summer. For more information, contact the store at (360) 666-9322, email info@nestvintagedecor.com or visit their Facebook page.
