An interview with Nancy Demyttenaere

BY Jason Emerson

editor

Nelson resident Nancy Demyttenaere has been working for the past three years on business projects at Nelson Corners that have helped reshape the commercial landscape of the hamlet — and she is not finished yet. Through her vision, and her revitalization of three historic buildings in the hamlet, Peaks Coffee Co. and Humble Harvest Brewing Co. have set up shop; while a third venture, Naughty Mary’s Cigars, is currently in the works for 2018 or 2019.

Demyttenaere started in 2014 with the purchase of a historic house at 3258 Route 20, directly across the street from Nelson Farms. She completely renovated the building and it became the home of Peaks and the Humble Harvest brewery operation.

“This could have some really nice benefits for the town,” Demyttenaere said at the time. “We want to work with Nelson Farms and The Nelson Odeon and get things percolating again in Nelson. We want to help preserve the historic character in town — and have some fun.”

In 2015, Demyttenaere bought the house next door at 3264 Route 20, on the corner of Route 20 and Erieville Road. After its renovation, Peaks moved over there and expanded, and Humble Harvest opened a tap room at 3258 — and Nelson has become a better-known place to shop.

Now, Demyttenaere has purchased a third building — immediately around the corner and behind Peaks on Erieville Road — that she is currently renovating. This historic building, once the town blacksmith shop, will be Demyttenaere’s cigar lounge and have an apartment on the second floor. While the physical address of that building is 4019 Erieville Road, the commercial entrance is planned to be from the parking lots behind Humble Harvest and Peaks.

The effects of Demyttenaere’s investment in her town have made a difference, and can be viewed as a model of community entrepreneurialism that benefits the investor, the business owners, the town and the residents.

“Nancy’s purchase of the homes in Nelson, and subsequent revitalization of each property, has helped to build a sense of cohesion among our business community,” said Town Councilor Jen Marti, who is also the board liaison for hamlet economic development. “Artists and patrons of the Nelson Odeon are encouraged to stop at Peaks for coffee or Humble Harvest for a beer; Nelson Farms has many times opened in the evening when shows are scheduled and provided visitors of the Odeon, many of whom are from out of town, the opportunity to take locally made goods home with them. I think it’s also inspired business as well as residents to make property improvements. …  In a nutshell, Nancy has energized the economic development of the Hamlet of Nelson by having a vision and working hard to bring it to life.”

We have asked Demyttenaere to share some of her thoughts and ideas about her endeavors, and what is coming up in the future at Nelson Corners:

You have almost single-handedly revitalized the downtown business district in Nelson by refurbishing your three buildings and hosting three businesses. Why you have done this?

Oh, dear, you really are too kind with that accolade! It’s truly been a team effort all around.

We saw an opportunity to support the new energy growing in the hamlet what with neighbors like the Nelson Odeon, Nelson Country Farm Store, Route 20 Sofa, Spruce Ridge Landscapes and others. I’d also been working in historic preservation for close to 40 years and saw a chance to restore some nice buildings, re-establish more businesses at a key intersection and provide a supportive environment for some budding entrepreneurs.

These three buildings are also key identifiers in the town’s heritage, its continuing charm and its potential future development. They, along with structures at McGee’s Auctions and the Country Farm Store, serve as vital anchors in the architectural cohesiveness of the Rt. 20 corridor through the hamlet. It just makes economic sense to preserve them and maximize their usefulness.

What have been the biggest challenges and biggest successes in creating these three buildings and business opportunities?

Lol, for me personally, the biggest challenge is time … and patience. We have a great team of professionals working the technical aspects, the town administration has been very welcoming and the town’s folk are out there cheering things on too. We also have great residential and commercial tenants who have become good friends, if not like extended family. The other entrepreneurs in the hamlet help as well with information, ideas and encouragement when things look bleak.

Sometimes it’s daunting … budget’s run thin, you open a wall and find beams hanging in midair and blending personalities is like herding cats sometimes. We’ve had to do some extensive rehab in some areas, but when you’re done and you step back to take it all in, these properties and the community they come with have proven it’s well worth it.

What is your business and entrepreneurial philosophy?

From the start, we wanted to focus on collaboration rather than competition. In addition to rehabilitating the buildings, we wanted to find people and businesses that blend well and add new opportunities.

We focus on producing a high-quality product and pleasant welcoming environment within which to share it. That’s why there’s Humble Harvest Brewing offering a very special skillset in hand-crafting small batch brews, and Peaks Coffee Company offering their in-house roasted coffees and specialty teas.

Soon the Nelson Country Store will have a tasting room as well and we think that’s great. The more the merrier!

What are your thoughts on business expansion and opportunities in Nelson and the Cazenovia area? Do you see room for growth and change, is it a business-friendly environment, is it worth all the work, etc?

I definitely see a lot of opportunity for growth in both areas and beyond, depending on what you are looking for and looking to accomplish. This area is still working to get its footing as far as type and size of new economic engines it needs or wants.

For me, it’s a question of scale and ensuring the building responses are appropriate to our physical and cultural environment. Bigger with glitz is not always better. I’d rather see 20 small-to-medium establishments in an area, each employing five or more people rather than one big box store employing the same number of folk.

To repeat some sage advice, it really isn’t smart to put all your eggs in one basket.

People are also drifting away from the malls, the department stores, etc. Folks are beginning to rely more and more on the online markets. And you hear about distribution warehouses that have been built in rural communities that are huge, literally miles of load docks.

Do we really want that in our area, in this fabulous landscape we enjoy? What can you offer your immediate community and visitors in terms of products/services that can only be experienced in our area?

What is your current business endeavor — what will it be, what will you offer, where does it stand, when will it open, etc.?

Aaaah, yes … Naughty Mary’s! Our next project is a cigar lounge somewhere within Nelson Corners.

It’s being designed as a place where you can come and relax, meet some friends, enjoy premium cigars and fine sipping whiskey, watch the game, play some games, etc. A “gentlemen’s” lounge set up ala 1890s with the entry reconfigured out the back towards the parking lot.

We’ve just begun clearing out the old blacksmith shop and carriage barn (just behind where Peaks Coffee Company is located) to assess its condition. We’re working first on stabilizing the structure, and will make a presentation to the town planning board, and our neighbors, sometime over the winter. The building had to be totally gutted, so we’ve got options to make it perfect for everyone’s needs.

Any future businesses/changes coming to your three buildings in Nelson?

Oh, I hope so! Both Peaks Coffee Company and Humble Harvest have had such a positive start and growth spurt in these couple of years, that in my mind it would be a mark of success for everyone if they find a need to expand, move on or morph their businesses into new enterprises.

When Naughty Mary’s comes online, we’ll have completed the first vision of startups, so let’s see what else we can accomplish. We still have the whole second floor of the big red building that’s unfinished. It used to be apartments, and could be again with the right restoration, but there’re also prospects for artist studios, offices, a little bed & breakfast, all sorts of great ideas worth researching.

What is your advice to potential entrepreneurs on how to be successful, and/or what types of businesses are needed in our area?

First:  Develop a strong business plan — and write it down, all of it! Build a visual road map, diagram your steps and walk yourself through the process you plan to follow. Just like an Olympic skier, walk yourself through the course, test it out on a small scale before you actually try it out in real life. You need to be efficient in your process before you can even think about making it real.

Second: Find a coach/mentor — Have someone to explore ideas with, to help you refine your steps, to strengthen your confidence. Keep learning, take a class, talk to other entrepreneurs, keep searching for answers, pre-plan contingencies. Don’t hide your weaknesses, be willing to improve them.

Third: Beware of barnacles — As an entrepreneur, you are putting your money and energies where your mouth is. You are also in this for the long haul. Ensure associates are truly invested in the larger picture and not just catching a ride.

Fourth: Celebrate the successes with others along the way — There’s no such thing as a one-man band or an overnight sensation. It takes hundreds of interactions, thousands of conversations and years of many dedicated people working towards the same goal to make any progress on anything.