CAZENOVIA — Earlier this month, Travis Barr and Alex Altomonte opened H. Grey Supply Co., a modern day general store and outfitter at 53 Albany St. in Cazenovia.
The store offers a wide range of goods, including clothing, accessories, bath and body products, skincare brands, makeup, pantry items, household necessities and décor, and bar supplies.
According to the owners, the store is focused on celebrating inclusivity, positivity and community.
“We made sure to curate small batch makers from all over the U.S., bringing ‘local’ from all over America into Cazenovia,” Altomonte said. “We try to source products [from vendors] that have an eco-conscience spirit behind them and that practice fair wage employment and sustainability.”
Barr was born and raised in Cazenovia.
“Business is in [Travis’s] blood,” Altomonte said.
H. Grey Supply Co. is named in honor of Barr’s grandfather Henry Grey Barr, who opened The Brae Loch Inn in 1946. The thriving Cazenovia business is now operated by Barr’s uncle Jimmy and aunt Val.
Barr’s cousin McKenzie Houseman owns 20|EAST on Albany Street, and Houseman’s brother, Tim Hughes, founded Cazenovia Cut Block.
“The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in our family,” said Houseman. “Travis and Alex have created a warm and creative space in the heart of our village. It is so exciting to see shoppers walking around with a rainbow of shopping bags from all of the different stores in town. This new energy and excitement feels so good after such a tough year. I look forward to many events driven by the renewed spirit of creativity, collaboration, and the desire to create wonderful shopping experiences for the customers. H. Grey Supply Co. is an amazing addition to the Village of Cazenovia, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
Barr and Altomonte both lived and worked in New York City before relocating to Cazenovia.
“We both had experience in opening businesses for corporations in both retail and food, and we wanted to bring our perspective to the landscape of Cazenovia shopping, [while also] complimenting what is already here,” Barr said.
Barr returned to his hometown four years ago to undergo back surgery. Following the operation, he decided to remain in Cazenovia to recover and take care of his mother.
According to Barr, the opportunity to open a store presented itself last year. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the couple to “put the breaks on everything.”
Since the start of the pandemic, both Barr and Altomonte have been living in Cazenovia full-time.
“We spent a lot of time in the past year daydreaming about what products and brands we would carry if this was to really happen,” Barr said. “[We were] really fine-tuning our brand . . . So putting the pause on the store because of COVID was actually really helpful. I also got the experience of helping McKenzie at 20|EAST, [where I got to learn] and be really inspired by her. She is so successful, and she has been so supportive. We were originally bummed out about this last year, but looking back [I think], ‘Thank God we had this time, because it has made us more prepared.’”
In fall 2020, Barr and Altomonte considered moving forward with their plans but ultimately decided to wait until after Christmas.
“In January, we revisited the idea and things just started rolling out for us,” Barr said. “The space we originally wanted wasn’t available, but the space we are in now was, and we liked it even better. We got in the space on March 1 and then it was warp speed getting everything together, getting the space ready, getting the merchandise in, and getting the fixtures ready. Now here we are.”
H. Grey Supply Co. officially opened to the public on Saturday, April 17.
The store is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Someone said the other day, ‘[Wow,] you can’t walk a few yards without running into a Barr business here,’” Barr said. “It feels really exciting to be part of my family’s legacy. It just feels right. This has really felt like no work at all. It has just been fun and easy. The universe has really just laid everything out for us. If you had asked me a year ago if this was a possibility, I would have said, ‘No way, there are no resources; how is this going to happen?’ I can’t help but think that my grandfather is looking out for us and is proud and happy and excited. To bring this vibe of positivity, inclusivity and diversity — which I think is needed in any small community — to the community I grew up in is exciting too.”
For more information on the store, call 315-815-5016 or follow “H. Grey Supply Co.” on Instagram.
