SHOP LOCAL The B's Nest • Brattleboro, Vermont Gifts, women and children's clothing and ... ice cream!

Brattleboro, Vermont, is one place you can go and be guaranteed to find something quirky. For example, nowhere else in the surrounding region are you going to find a women and baby boutique clothing store with an attached ice cream parlor. Yet, that is exactly what you will find at The B's Nest. &emsp;A double storefront tucked into a small brick building on Eliot Street, The B's Nest is an inviting space that one too many husbands have accidentally led their wives to. &emsp;"They come in for the ice cream, not knowing everything else that comes with it," says owner Brenda Knock. &emsp;She recalls several instances where unwitting husbands, simply looking for ice cream, ended up staying in the Nest for several hours while their wives shopped. Knock finds these occasions very humorous. &emsp;The ice cream comes from The Blueberry Haus, a Guilford-based business Knock and her husband, Dan, who have run it since 2006. Flavors include simple classics like Creamy Vermont Maple and Mint Chocolate Chip or more adventurous flavors like Chocolate Cookie Monster (Knock's favorite) and Gold Digger. &emsp;Any husband who wanders into The B's Nest and finds himself sitting for an hour or two can be consoled knowing he's enjoying the best homemade ice cream in Brattleboro. &emsp; &emsp;The year-round promise of ice cream may draw people in, but the boutique items are the star of the show at The B's Nest. Founded by Knock in 2014, the store provides everything anyone shopping for a wife, girlfriend, friend or child could want. &emsp;"I love kids stuff," says Knock, a mother and grandmother. "There aren't that many places around here that sell high-quality kids' clothing. So, we fill a gap in that respect." &emsp;The B's Nest is bursting with outfits hand-selected by Knock and her friend and employee, Jodi Hildreth. The two attend trade and gift shows together, shopping for brands that will best fit into the cozy/cute aesthetic of the store. &emsp;One particularly popular brand is Musli, a Ukrainian-based child's clothier that uses organic cotton to produce durable, soft and adorable children's clothing. Other brands include Rufflebut Swim, Magnetic Me, Fixoni, and Angel Dear. &emsp;With sizes ranging from newborn to 7, The B's Nest offers clothes for every type of kid. Boys will enjoy dinosaur, bear, bulldozer, flannel patterned shirts, and colorful, durable pants. Girls, meanwhile, will love the pastel-colored blouses and dresses, usually patterned with flowers or cute woodland critters. The baby onesies and pajamas are all uniquely patterned and made with buttery soft fabrics. &emsp;A notable aspect of the store is the outfits Knock and Hildreth put together for customers to see. &emsp;"It's not like going into Walmart. We curate outfits to our tastes, and that helps people see the potential of the clothes," says Knock. &emsp;"It's really rewarding to know that what you picked out, people love," adds Hildreth. &emsp;While customers could easily spend an entire day browsing through the children's clothes alone, there are also plenty of other kid favorites like books, toys, tea sets, puzzles, and Jellycat stuffed animals. &emsp;"Those sell out so fast," says Knock. "It's hard to keep them stocked!" &emsp;Further into the store are the adult options. BC Essentials aromatherapy products made by Knock's sister take up an entire wall near the rear of the store. Samples include hand and body lotion, soy candles, sugar scrub, bath bombs, foot cream and baby lotions. &emsp;On the other side of the store, behind the ice cream parlor, is the women's clothing section. Knock and Hildreth put together a collection of chic and comfortable choices that change with the seasons. Long wool skirts, canvas overalls, cashmere shawls, hats, fleece vests, and long-sleeved blouses fill the racks for winter. &emsp;Along the farthest wall of the store are the Vermont-centric items, such as locally made ceramics, fudge, candles, incense, ornaments and wood-carved items. One shelf is dedicated entirely to wood-burned coasters and ornaments made by Knock's daughter, Jasmine. A whole line of Vermont-themed stickers, mugs, hats and sweatshirts are available for passing tourists or devoted townies. &emsp;Knock herself has been a Brattleboro resident since the 1970s and has found the community to be one that cares about quality, whether in the clothes they wear or the ice cream they consume. &emsp;"It's such a great community," she says. "They really care about what they buy. It's a wonderful thing to be a part of." BOX (with logo) The B's Nest 19 Elliot Street Brattleboro, Vermont thebsnest.com HOURS: Sun. noon-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.