The name is misleading: It has new soul, too

NORTH CANAAN — Not everything at Old Soul in North Canaan is old. There are plenty of sparkling new items that would make excellent holiday gifts and stocking stuffers.  

But yes, as its name implies, the main mission of the shop is to find new homes for items that have already been owned and loved. It’s a perfectly appropriate mission for a store that resides in a space that for decades was home to Jim’s Garage, which was a destination for shoppers in search of “pre-loved” Subarus and other winter-worthy vehicles. 

The shop is owned by Deb Keller, but on a recent pre-holiday afternoon it was former Jim’s Garage owner Bill Hower who was minding the store. Yes, that’s correct, Jim’s Garage was owned by Bill; names of things have a funny way of shifting in North Canaan, the town that everyone knows as Canaan even though actually Canaan is the town that everyone knows as Falls Village. 

But back to the gift items. From the street, Old Soul appears to be mostly a vintage shop, but inside things aren’t quite what they appear to be from the outside. There are many enticing new items, in sizes that range from the small (unusual and attractive soaps including some that look like geodes and some, handmade in Georgia, that have a beer theme and are unexpectedly lovely). 

For children, there are all sorts of vintage oddities, but there is also a line of plush animals that range in size from small and cuddly to large, green and a dinosaur. 

A perfect stocking stuffer for women who like to manage the  items on their “honey do” list themselves is a multi-tool that looks like a hammer and comes in a variety of floral prints.

“Best thing is, ‘he’ will never borrow it; it’s got flowers on it,” said Hower.

North Canaan has always been a train town, and will become even more of one soon, when the renovation of Union Station has been completed. Old Soul is full of railroad memorabilia, including lanterns in a variety of sizes, signs and bells.

There are lots of lovely dishes, perfect for the hostess of this year’s holiday dinner.

And in case a sleigh ride is scheduled after dinner, Hower has what must be a unique set of beaver gauntlet gloves, which are quite possibly a bargain at $320. If someone has snagged the beaver gloves before you can get there, the shop also has fur-trimmed elk mittens that Hower says are “fit for an expedition.” They cost about $200 a pair. 

For the rest of December, Old Soul is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. In January, the hours change to Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. If those hours don’t work, call Keller at 860-670-1627 and make an appointment.