The Emporium: Living In The Kaleidoscope

Sitting back in his smoky-blue antique velvet armchair, donning hearty, outdoor gear as if waiting for the next big storm, The Emporium owner Evan Nichols is quietly prismatic, thoughtful and narrative.  I could sit with him for hours in his chandeliered House of 1833 bed and breakfast, listening to his richly-layered tales of local history, people and architecture.

Nichols, 59, mentions The Emporium has been best described as I would use the same phrase to describe Nichols and the life he’s built for himself.   

Inspired by beauty, music, art and architecture, Nichols grew up in a Middletown, New York, a charming, medium-sized city surrounded by countryside about 65 miles north of Manhattan.  Eventually, he left when he was accepted at Princeton University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English and a second degree in graphic design. He later earned two architectural degrees from the Rhode Island School of Design.

He spent time in Greece translating for a literary magazine, then met Robert Palmer Bankel, owner of the Umbrella Factory, in Rhode Island.  They became business partners, opened the Emporium in 1978, then Nickel’s in Newport and the Greek Revival B&B, House of 1833, in Mystic.

Both Umbrella Factory and Emporium are for sale now.  Nichols said he is looking forward to more leisure and flexibility; perhaps earning another degree or teaching an architecture class is in his future.

In the meantime, he has a business to run. He said his first impression of The Emporium building was: ”Now that is a building I would love to have.” 

“Our projects are driven by the architecture," he said. "We keep the buildings going, breathe new life into them, make them self-supporting and still make them a part of the Mystic fabric.” 

Built in 1859, The Emporium building was previously owned and restored by Actor Lee Howard and Artist Paul White.  Nichols and Bankel, friends of the duo, purchased the building and filled the business with unique curiosities, a campy Halloween basement and an art gallery, a venue to many local artists and students. 

After seeing Nichols' home, I can see his dramatic, glittered-yet-earthy style present in The Emporium.  He’s the guy who’s not afraid to mix old and new, or three different floral patterns with a stripe. 

When asked how The Emporium has managed to stay in business for more than 30 years, Nichols said, “We try to stay ahead of the trends and keep it vital”. 

He shared his most vivid memories on the job. “During the filming of Mystic Pizza, we didn’t know any of those actors. But they were in the store all the time,” he said.

To accommodate the cast’s Halloween party, Nichols agreed to move the store on location for the group's shopping pleasure, and had a great time in the process.

Work is enjoyable and demanding, he said.  Nichols is tied to the B&B and finds giving guests the royal treatment requires his presence, but admits he enjoys dining out at all the great restaurants of Groton.  He lists them off like a dealer tossing cards:  Mirch Masala, Olio, Paul’s Pasta.  He also mentions antique car shows and beaches, but not much time for play, yet.

Nichols still has many dreams to fulfill and many more tricks up his sleeve.

“We are incrementalists," he said. "We jump in and make things happen.”