It is perhaps a labor of love, dedication to the community, a bit of insanity or a combination of all three which serve as the fuel behind Nic and Kim West’s latest business venture. Whatever the case may be, the successful business owners of Roberts Ferry Gourmet have launched a new Oakdale business, The Gift Basket.

Located at 126 North Yosemite in Oakdale, passersby can’t help but notice the rich orange graphics which grace their street front windows. Yet what is found inside is a departure from what regulars of their North Third Avenue business might expect. The Gift Basket is exactly that.

“We talked for a long time, about needing somewhere to make our gift baskets with lots of room, where people can see them and enjoy the experience,” Nic West said of their initial business need, as their primary business was thriving.

The couple shared at the initial takeover of the 126 North Yosemite space they felt it would be a great space for exactly that. With ample room it would house all their gift basket needs to their customers, as well as room for back stock.

Known for their hard work and hands on dedication to a vision, the couple along with family, friends and paid tradesmen got to work rehabbing the space.

“Then as we got into it, we realized what a beautiful old building this was,” Nic said, sharing they decided the space needed to be something people could enjoy.

Not one afraid of a challenge and driven by a keen eye for housewares, design and yes, gifts, Kim agreed with her husband and they began sourcing furnishings to create a welcoming space for customers.

As money was being spent, Nic, while excited by what they were creating, is also the more practical of the two. The space needed to be more than “beautiful” it needed to be profitable.

“That started the conversation of what do we want it to be? If we’re going to be making our (Roberts Ferry) gift baskets there, that means all the gift basket paraphernalia is going to be there,” Kim said.

Yet the couple is emphatic that as the space morphed from a place of purpose to a place of business, so too did their vision. The desire and the goal now were to create a space where customers could bring gift items (purchased anywhere) to be wrapped and transformed to that perfect present, be it by a Gift Basket staffer or themselves.

The vision being to offer a service, a dash of product and a space which encourages community and lingering. Additionally, the couple shared, they had experienced a fair share of requests for customization in their other business and while that would be the goal and something they wanted to provide; space did not allow.

“As that store has grown in its customer base and loyalty,” Kim said of Roberts Ferry Gourmet Oakdale, “we just feel like Morning Market has really helped project us into the world of awareness.

“We always say, part of the beauty of Morning Market is that it draws people downtown and it’s our opportunity to capture that,” she added of the current space.

As the couple continued their quest for reviving the building, the vision for the new space continued to unfold.

“We determined that if it’s going to be the “gift basket,” then we need to make it, “The Gift Basket,” it’s all about the gift basket,” Kim said of the origin of their new business name.

Looking to expand on the sense of community and connection, she felt was so present at Oakdale’s Morning Market, the couple has leaned into customization, the ability to make something personal. Getting away from pushing a button on Amazon, rather going in and finding an intentional gift. From the item to the wrapping, creating something special for the recipient.

Now open close to two months, there are items from glassware, bath bombs, kitchen towels and everything in between displayed throughout the shop space.

Kim shared she and Nic were 80’s babies, with older siblings from the 70’s, both eras filled with many fond memories and gatherings. The décor is a nod to an era which they remember and wanted to recreate as the backdrop for their clientele.

“We remember so vividly Nic’s grandma, hosting party after party and it was all about coming together and entertaining,” Kim said of their inspiration for creating a space with a retro vibe serving as the backdrop. “We were really big on that and that was part of our love of Morning Market too was that we lived through that period of COVID and so much of the community lost connection. We still feel the youth of our world don’t connect in that way. That’s something we talk about as business owners and parents; how do we get back to that time of that personalness again? Connection.”

Their commitment to that want and need for “connection” is apparent through a business model that encourages patrons to simply come in, bring their items and peruse their gift-wrapping options. Be it a simple “to go” pack, special ribbon or a custom container, it can all be found at The Gift Basket.

“That’s what we love about Oakdale,” Kim shared, “they really do come together when it’s necessary. So how do we promote that in the everyday?

“We look at it as, this is our opportunity to provide all the other things Oakdale has asked for,” she continued. “This is our opportunity to basically expand in the same area and give them what they’ve asked for.”

With the holiday season just around the corner, the couple is hopeful that the community will continue to discover their newly created space to capitalize on the opportunity and services for gift giving.

“In the first two weeks we had exactly what I want. My vision,” Kim said.  “We had people bring in items from other stores. It’s not just about shopping at Roberts Ferry. It’s not just about making your gift basket that you’ve bought the things from us. It’s about having the space to come and put your finishing touches on the things that are special and important.”

“You can bring items in and say, I would like you to wrap this and I’m going to come back tomorrow or you can use the room yourself,” she stated of the varying options. “We’re here to guide them. You can make your own bow with videos or you can choose which bow you want.”

Ten years since first taking over Roberts Ferry Gourmet in Roberts Ferry and five years since opening the Oakdale location on North Third, the couple is ready for this next endeavor.

“I will say this about Nic and I, we’re hard workers. When we see something we’re passionate about we can’t let up on the gas, which is bad in some areas,” Kim confided. “We can be distracted by passion, but it really did come together in an amazing way.”

The Gift Basket is open Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (through September). Additional information on services and upcoming events can be found on their website thegiftbasketoakdale.com, on Instagram thegiftbasket.oakdale and Facebook The Gift Basket Oakdale.