Dolls add to Dove's Nest gifts

The Richardsons stress that The Dove's Nest is a gift shop.

"We're not a doll shop or an antique shop," said Mr. Richardson, filling in for his wife, the actual owner of The Dove's Nest.

"We have dolls and collectibles, but we specialize in gifts including tea pots, lace, collectible bears, musical angels and Fenton Art Glass.

"We carry reasonably priced, brand name gifts that can often be found in the more expensive department stores. But we offer them at better prices. We have nice products at nice prices," Mr. Richardson said.

He said they owned five or six shops in Texas, but his brother lives in Davenport, so there was a pull to the Quad-Cities.

Mr. and Ms. Richardson both grew up in the Midwest, so the Iowa winter wasn't a complete surprise.

"I like the area. I just moved to LeClaire. I leased a 160-year-old house until our house is ready," said Mr. Richardson.

Aledo, Ill., was the couple's original choice for opening a shop.

"We have a farm in Aledo, and we want to build a log home, but that will take a while," Mr. Richardson said.

They hoped to find an old building and almost leased a building in Aledo.

"Then this 150-year-old building came open. Once we saw it, we knew it would work."

They were right. Mr. Richardson said that, for such a new shop The Dove's Nest is doing quite well.

"And we like the area. We'll be here for some time," he said.

"We're still scouting a few things, but this store won't be big enough to put too much more stuff in, so we'll probably still have a shop in Aledo, too."

That's the kind of optimism that bolsters progress in any town.

You can call The Dove's Nest, 289-5022.

-- By Catherine Guy