Business of the Week: The Great Acorn Company

The Great Acorn Company

800 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo

454-2990

What do they offer?

"We offer the best gifts for the best price for the best customer," said the owners of The Great Acorn Company. 

The store carries an eclectic mix of jewelry, "art to wear" clothing, including one of a kind pieces, colorful socks, toys, a book section of novels and cookbooks hand-picked for their customers, purses, belts, shawls and sweaters, candles, home décor, stationery, soaps and lotions, plus works from local artists like Kathleen Lipinski, Steve Emery, and Tom Killion. From Haiti, they have art objects in pounded metal made from recycled oil drums. 

Because so many Marin women wear earrings, bracelets and necklaces, the emphasis at the store is on jewelry. You will find items from Elements by Jill Schwartz -- made of unusual materials in assemblage style with a vintage groove. Artist Thomas Mann has a Techno Romantic collection of earrings, necklaces, pins, and bracelets. Camenae by Janice Lee Ripley, a San Francisco artist who travels to Bali, is full of pieces inspired by myth. Michael Michaud collects flora from his travels around the world and casts each design in bronze, sterling, silver, or gold from nature's own creation. Carol Emery, who also works at the store, makes one-of-a-kind exotic beaded pieces. And Pom from Thailand works with semi-precious stones.

Who are they?

Co-owners Judy Morris from San Anselmo and Mary Rathbun from Ross are well known in the community.

Morris moved here in 1973 from Ohio, where she was a fine arts major and an art therapist, helping people work through psychological disorders through art and there. She was one of the founders of the Ohio Art Therapy Association.

She realizes now that what she learned working at Helen Winnemore's shop in Columbus, OH became a template and inspiration for The Great Acorn Company as it is today. She has many talents but said, "I love fixing people's broken art."  

Rathbun said she did "boring corporate stuff" before coming to The Great Acorn Company. "We have a great business marriage. Judy does all the creative stuff and I do all the business stuff. We do a lot without spending a lot." 

How long have they been here?

The store was opened in 1976 by Alice Liff and Judy Tilt. The current Judy came on board in 1977, thinking she would stay about six months, but Rathbun joined in 1979. In 1995, Morris and Rathbun bought the store from Judy Tilt.

In the beginning, the store was more nature-oriented, thus the name. "Like a baby Nature Company," Rathbun said.

In the middle of San Anselmo's flood zone, they have weathered two of them -- in 1982 and 2005, when the building was lifted off its pilings.

Why are they business of the week?

Morris and Rathbun are very involved in the San Anselmo Merchant's Association, attending meetings and raising money to do things like plant more bulbs, put scarecrows on the lamp posts, and put up the holiday lights.

They try to raise awareness to encourage residents to shop locally.

And they have a very devoted clientele. "A week does not go by without somebody saying, 'I don't know what I would do if you weren't here'," said Morris.

They have watched their customers grow up, many of whom have kids of their own now.

Kim Gilfillan stopped by while I was in the store. She said she's worked in the store "a million years." She brought in birthday girl and San Anselmo resident Candace Lauer, who was dressed for both the Giants and Halloween in orange and black.

Diana Kennedy came in looking for Halloween socks for her niece Griffin, because her sister didn't bring a costume from Washington, D.C. Griffin said, "On Halloween, at least you have to wear crazy socks." Kennedy said,"I know just the place."

On Nov. 13 the store is having its 34th birthday. There will be prizes and guests are encouraged to wear their wackiest Christmas sweaters!

A loyal group of women always help out at the store during the holidays. "We call them our angels," Rathbun said.

"We have a lot of fun in this store." the co-owners chorused. "We love our customers."