Home full of heart

Gabrielle Green changed her entire career when she first joined the team at Little Red Hen, which she said also changed her life. She started as an instructor and now, nearly six years later, she’s the manager of a new, “higher end” home gift store on one of downtown Chico’s busiest corners with the opening of Little Red Hen Home. After more than 20 years in publishing, Green says the change was never about career advancement, but about Little Red Hen’s staff and mission. The nonprofit operates as an educational program that provides on-the-job work experience and skill training for over 175 people with developmental disabilities. The addition of the home store puts the organization at six retail locations across Chico, in addition to multiple other support programs. After the recent closing of Zucchini & Vine across the street from Little Red Hen Vintage, Green and other staff members jumped at the chance to lease the space at 204 Main St. The shop offers upscale versions of classic home items, like board games, spices and specialty oils, and décor. Stop by weekdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and weekends, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Why the decision for Little Red Hen to expand?

It allows us to employ more people and we can continue to grow our program. The population of adults with disabilities or developmental disabilities and those with autism is increasing, and many are going to be aging out of the high schools in the future, and it’s really important that they have a place where they can have a career, earn full wages, have dignity and potentially grow to advance to other areas. The need for employment for this diverse population is staggering, so we’re responding to the demand. We have the [plant] nursery, the kitchen store, a floral store, a gift shop, a vintage store, and so the home store seemed like a beautiful extension.

What were renovations like?

I think this process has been about two weeks. We used our team from [Little Red Hen] Tools & Trade. We all had a vision and came together. And this building is gorgeous; it was the perfect canvas to build on, so it wasn’t hard to make it look beautiful.

Where do you get your products?

We operate five other stores, so we have some from them, and we purchase new product. Erika [Birkholm] is an extremely talented buyer of products and we all are involved in curating it.

Did the holiday season spur you to open the store so quickly?

Yeah, absolutely. But we also wanted to bring beauty and vibrancy to this corner and keep it as gorgeous as our predecessors. It’s an important location and it’s important for there to be beauty and life in here as quickly as possible.