Gnu 2 Ewe, located at 26 W. Main St., Frewsburg, will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, May 22. The furniture refurbishing and home decor store will host a raffle where someone can win a free furniture piece. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

FREWSBURG — Starting a new business during the COVID-19 pandemic is worth celebrating.

However, with the opening of three new businesses in Frewsburg, that is an achievement worthy of celebrating. On Saturday starting at 10 a.m., three business ribbon-cutting ceremonies will be held to recognize the opening of The Cozy Cuckoo Nest, located at 19 E. Main St.; Gnu 2 Ewe Furnishings, located at 26 W. Main St.; and Frewsburger Ice Cream Shop, located at 11 W. Main St.

THE COZY CUCKOO NEST

The Cozy Cuckoo Nest is owned by Paula Rondeau, who is bringing old furniture pieces back to life as well as designing new custom furniture pieces.

“I primarily refurbish furniture. It started out as a hobby and it turned into a business overnight,” she said. “I also do a lot of custom work. People bring in pieces from home and I redo them. I have a lot of furniture in storage. If they’re looking for a dresser, I can give them 20 different options.”

The Cozy Cuckoo Nest, located at 19 E. Main St., Frewsburg will be celebrating the opening of the business with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 22. The refurbishing and custom design furniture business has been opened since December. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Rondeau said she opened her storefront in December, but has been designing and refurbishing furniture for more than a year.

“Pretty much since the pandemic started is when I got into this,” she said. “It started as a shopping habit. I love furniture and older things. I was constantly buying them and bringing them home. I started to have no room or use for them, so I started to sell things.”

Rondeau said her hobby progressed to the point where she started to learn how to make furniture pieces herself and also started to paint them as well.

“I was at home with my kids, who have been remote learning, and this was something I could work on at home and develop into a business,” she said. ” It just got to big to do out of my house. I had to do it at the store because demand became too much. People wanted to bring me their furniture. That is why I decided to open the store. It was a risk in the middle of a pandemic, but I’ve been so busy that I can’t keep up. It’s been a good thing.”

The Cozy Cuckoo Nest is open from noon-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and by appointment. For more information, visit cozycuckoonest.com or its Facebook page. Anyone attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony will receive a customer appreciation discount coupon that will be available to use that day.

The Frewsburg Ice Cream Shop, located at 11 W. Main St., will be celebrating with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, May 22, with two other new businesses in the hamlet. The new ice cream shop is an extension of the Frewsburger Pizza Shop. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

GNU 2 EWE FURNISHINGS

Nicole Garland also started refurbishing furniture following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As her hobby continued to grow, she too needed to open a business in Frewsburg called Gnu 2 Ewe Furnishings.

“I try to find unique old pieces, mainly solid wood that can be brought back to life,” she said. “I paint, sand and redo original pieces. We also have home decor, like a ceramic boot for plants. Stuff you’re not going to find at any other store in the area.”

Garland said this is the first business she has owned. She is very excited when her customer’s find a furniture piece that they just need to buy.

“A lot of old furniture pieces are just natural wood. When I add some paint or a new stain it gives it a whole new personality,” she said. “That is the most exciting part is seeing my customers’ faces when they find the right piece.”

Garland said there will be a raffle for a free piece of furniture someone can win the day of the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Gnu 2 Ewe Furnishings is open Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, visit the business’ Facebook page.

FREWSBURGER ICE CREAM SHOP

Steve Nord has opened a new branch of his already established Frewsburger Pizza Shop because of a need in the hamlet. He said after The Igloo in Frewsburg closed, he decided to open the Frewsburger Ice Cream Shop to provide Hershey brand ice cream, including milkshakes and sundaes.

“(Opening an ice cream shop) was always been something in the back of my mind. After The Igloo closed, which had been a mainstay business in Frewsburg for a long time, I thought about giving something back to the town. Ice cream and Frewsburg go together.”

Nord said he opened his new business May 3. The business is open from 3-9 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit Frewsburger Pizza Shop on Facebook.

Nord said one special that will be happening during the ribbon-cutting ceremony is that every 10th customer will receive a free cone.