The scoop on the Gallery

On the job with store owner, Linda Riggs

Friday, July 3, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by EMILY BARNES Linda Riggs, who owns Cobb Island Gallery with her husband, Jim, hands freshly scooped ice cream cones to Lloyd Bowling of Allens Fresh, right, and Porter Kier of Swan Point at the shop on Neale Sound Drive on Cobb Island. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Welcome home: Walking into Cobb Island Gallery is like stepping into your best friend's living room.

The tiny shop on Neale Sound Drive on Cobb Island is bathed in sunlight with couches, easy chairs and café tables creating a homey atmosphere for locals and boaters who regularly stop by for a cup of coffee or tea, pastry, a book and gossip.

Linda and Jim Riggs purchased the former Norris General Store and opened the gallery in October 2005.

The shop, which is open Thursday through Sunday from April to December, offers visitors a variety of commercial and handmade nautical items, jewelry, paintings and ceramics. The gallery is a retirement business, Linda Riggs said, adding that when her husband retires the couple would like to add more food items to the shop's menu of goodies.

The structure was in bad shape when the Riggses purchased it. The couple moved to the island in 2002 and one day Riggs said they noticed a contractor working on the building.

"We thought that it was such a cute building," she said. "Jim said that it would be a nice spot for an art gallery and I said what the island needs is a coffee shop."

The couple had to do extensive renovation to the building before they could open for business — an aggravating process but a decision that Riggs said she doesn't regret.

"Opening the gallery was a spur of the moment thing," she said. "What sold us was the lovely water view it had and the space is very charming. There were days when I thought that we weren't going to be opening because of all of the hurdles that were thrown at us but it was worth it."

Snack and schmooze: Riggs offers her customers a variety of coffees, teas, smoothies, ice cream and homemade pastries.

Many folks regularly drop by the shop to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and chat with other regulars who are sitting in the "living room" area of the gallery.

Other customers zip in for some refreshments and then scoot back to their boats.

The gallery features gift and art items, including paintings by local artists Mary Lou Troutman, Dan Holden, Conni James, George McWilliams, Bill Penn and Sue Chappelear. The pieces range from watercolor and acrylic paintings and sculptures to ceramic and clay decorator items.

Riggs also features locally written cookbooks, jars of salsa, barbecue dips and sauces and nautical-themed T-shirts, throws, candles and wine caddies.

In the back of the gallery there are shelves filled with gently used books that boaters and locals can casually borrow for summer reading enjoyment, Riggs said.

"People donate the books," she said. "They're in good condition. Folks just come in and get them and return them when they're finished reading them. It's an honor system."

Seniors, speakers: Riggs opens the gallery up for a senior citizen fellowship program on the second Monday of the month. Seniors in the Cobb Neck area are invited to the gallery to enjoy some fresh brewed coffee or tea, pastries and companionship. Often, there is a guest speaker, as well, Riggs said.

Riggs said the shop reflects Cobb Island's unique atmosphere.

"I know 95 percent of my customers by their first names and I know what beverages they drink," she said. "The island is a very unique community. I'm glad that I took the plunge. I decided that Cobb Island was going to be my retirement home and that the gallery is going to be my retirement business. We'll be here for a while, God willing."

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