From left to right: Lawrence Roberts II, Lawrence Roberts III, Dorothy Roberts, Robin Roberts and Sally-Ann Roberts
On Sept. 15, 2015, Dorothy Roberts’s love for all things artistic led her to open Robin’s Nest in the Pass — a shop featuring handmade jewelry, local art and other assorted treasures.
“Our motto is, ‘celebrating the creative spirit,’” she says. “It’s our guiding light.”
Nine years later, the Pass Christian gift store and gallery rang in its anniversary with live music, consigned artists showcasing their wares and a customer appreciation giveaway. The observance also gave Roberts an opportunity to reflect on how far the business — which was named for her sister, Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts — has come.
“One of our biggest milestones in the past nine years was the renovation to the store,” Roberts says, “which opened up more display space, two beautiful storefront windows and a large backstock room.”
In 2022, she launched Roberts Place Café next door, which caused her to be pulled in two different directions as she tried to attend to both businesses. Hiring store manager Jenny Doweidt freed her up to handle cafe business while knowing that store customers were well cared for.
“With any successful endeavor, you have to surround yourself with people who have skills and strengths you might not have; you have to be vulnerable enough to allow others to share their talents with you.”
“With any successful endeavor, you have to surround yourself with people who have skills and strengths you might not have; you have to be vulnerable enough to allow others to share their talents with you,” Roberts says. “You have to have a vision for growth with your business as well. Encouraging others to share in that growth is vital.”
SHOP AND EAT — OR VICE VERSA
Roberts’s passion and inspiration for her endeavors comes from her family. Her maternal grandmother, Sally Tolliver, loved making things and was particularly fond of needlepoint. Her maternal grandfather owned a business in Akron, Ohio, and there were entrepreneurs on her father’s side as well.
“My sister, Sally-Ann, often tells me I have business skills from the Roberts and Tolliver side and social skills from our late mother, Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts,” she says. “I established both of my businesses in Pass Christian because my parents loved this community.”
And the community has grown to love her and Robin’s Nest in return, snapping up Mississippi-made pillows, candles, hand-crafted jewelry, glassware and other popular items.
“With so many new homes, second homes and short-term rentals in our community, pottery, art and home-decor merchandise sells well for us,” Roberts says. “As for jewelry, we have some very popular collections, such as Maurice Milleur, whose studio creates collectible artisan-made jewelry in pewter. Our Roman Glass artisan-made jewelry is also extremely popular.”
Robin’s Nest’s stand-out attributes, according to the owner, are superior customer service, exceptional merchandise, unique local art and accessibility for all. The store’s aisles are purposefully wide to accommodate customers with mobility issues.
“We also have a wide price point for our merchandise; we are very affordable,” Roberts says. “Having a cafe located next door also adds to the shopping experience. People can shop, then get a bite to eat, or vice versa.”
And then there’s always the consistent draw of Robin, the store’s namesake.
“Folks come from all over to shop in the Nest because of her,” Roberts says.
SPOTLIGHTING CREATIVITY
Looking ahead, Roberts says Robin’s Nest will be trying to give consigned artists more exposure with showcases that highlight them. In the short term, she’s looking forward to robust traffic during Cruisin’ the Coast this month and the annual holiday open house in December.
“What I’d like to see nine years from now,” she says, “would be a store that continues to celebrate the creative spirit.”
IF YOU GO
Robin’s Nest in the Pass
(228) 222-4863
255 Davis Ave., Pass Christian
Monday to Friday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Saturday. 9:15 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sundays after Labor Day until the end of the year, noon-3 p.m.