“I had coveted having a business here for years,” Debra says. “This town is so pretty, with gorgeous old houses, tree-lined streets, and a preservation-minded community that never had to revive its downtown.” Over the past few years, there has been a surge in restaurants as well, she notes. “What I love is that they’re mostly independents, not chains. When I walk into a business, I don’t want to already know what’s going on or have the floor plan memorized. I like pleasant surprises, and Geneva is full of them.”


Scentimental Gardens occupies two floors of a turn-of-the-century home and reflects owner Debra Phillips’ many interests. (a) Architectural fragments gathered from around the globe. (b) Sweet coral shutters and landscaped courtyards beckon shoppers. (c) A restored old carriage house overflows with garden pots.
(d) Owner Linda McFadden started Past Basket as a small store featuring folk art and antiques, but the business has grown to become a resource for fabrics, bedding and bath products, and all manner of trays and serving pieces. Shown here: French table linens from Yves Delorme and Le Jacquard alongside stemware by Simon Pearce, hand-blown in Vermont. (e) Les Tissus Colbert specializes in hard-to-find, extra-wide lengths of European fabrics. (f) Watch the chocolatiers in crisp white coats hand-dipping their creations at Graham’s Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream. Or grab an Adirondack chair outside and enjoy a cone. (g) Seasonal salads and imaginative sandwiches sate cravings at Moveable Feast. The fudge brownies are legendary! (h) Artistic yet functional, the ceramics of Illinois potter Jean Burnett entice at Down to Earth Pottery, located inside The Treasure Hunt, a very cool antiques store.

A Jaunt to Geneva page 1 | 2
  Stumble It!
archive »