Date: Fri 28-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

business-Magic-Garden-Kost

Full Text:

Magic Garden-- Filling A Local Need For A Kids' Clothing Story

(with cuts)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

A magic garden is growing in Newtown, the vision of Nancy Kost and her

husband, Dan, who have opened a new store in the Queen Street Shopping Center

between the Big Y and Dunkin Donuts.

The Magic Garden is a children's clothing store that offers stylish clothing

and accessories for infants and children in a setting enlivened by the magical

artwork and crafts of local artist Joanne Kost.

"She's my very talented mother-in-law," Nancy Kost explained. "The store has

really been a family affair. My uncle, Frank Laskarzewski, made the counters.

My sister, Mary Jane Kovaleski, who lives in Fairfield, has been a big help,

too."

Nancy Kost has a degree in business which she earned at St Anselm College in

New Hampshire, where she met her husband, who also was a student there. She

always knew she wanted to own her own store, but launching a new business is a

big step.

"I was working as recreation director at Glen Hill, a nursing home in Danbury,

and I really enjoyed it," she said. "I would still be there if I hadn't had

this idea."

The idea for a children's clothing store grew out of the birth of the Kosts'

first child, Maggie, 2.

"I started making bows and headbands and was giving them away," Mrs Kost said.

"I saw that Newtown didn't have a store like this -- that there was a need --

and then one thing led to the next until it all came together here."

When she envisioned the store, Nancy Kost planned to stock clothing from

newborn to size 6X. But there were so many requests from customers for larger

sizes that she is expanding the stock up to size 10 for girls, boys to size 7.

"We have something for everyone, from affordable clothing to items for a very

special celebration," she said, "and playwear to dresswear."

The store regularly stocks such brands as Hartstrings, Sweet Potatoes,

Mulberribush, G. Willikers and Imp Originals. There are bibs, baby bags,

blankets and quilts, wooden puzzles, mobiles, hand-made quilted buntings and

caps from Vermont, holiday wear, christening outfits and First Holy Communion

dresses, and, of course, Nancy Kost's signature bows and headbands.

The walls of the new store are decorated with Joanne Kost's original murals.

"She stood on a ladder for four days, 12 hours a day, to paint the murals,"

Nancy Kost said. "She will have her handmade dolls and Christmas items in the

store soon."

Dan Kost, a computer programmer in Danbury, works at the Magic Garden on

Sundays. The store opened a few weeks later than the Kosts had expected so

there already is a 40-percent-off summer sale in progress.

"It's nice to be able to open with a sale," Mrs Kost said. "People have been

so pleased that they can shop in town. It's a great location in a nice new

shopping center. If I have the support, hopefully I'll be here a long time."

The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, Sunday

from noon to 3 pm. Call 270-1945 for more information.