Easthampton treasure to close: Sonnet and Sparrow’s owner to retire at end of year

Cynthia West, owner of Sonnet and Sparrow in Easthampton, makes tags for clothes. West opened the popular secondhand store on Cottage Street in 2019 with her daughter, McKenzie. The owners expect to close the store at the end of the year when Cynthia West retires.

Cynthia West, owner of Sonnet and Sparrow in Easthampton, makes tags for clothes. West opened the popular secondhand store on Cottage Street in 2019 with her daughter, McKenzie. The owners expect to close the store at the end of the year when Cynthia West retires. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS

Some of the items at Sonnet and Sparrow in Easthampton. Owner  Cynthia West will retire at the end of the year and the store is slated to close.

Some of the items at Sonnet and Sparrow in Easthampton. Owner Cynthia West will retire at the end of the year and the store is slated to close. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS

Sonnet and  Sparrow in Easthampton is expected to close at the end of the year after five years in business.

Sonnet and Sparrow in Easthampton is expected to close at the end of the year after five years in business. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS

Cynthia West, owner of Sonnet and Sparrow in her store in Easthampton.

Cynthia West, owner of Sonnet and Sparrow in her store in Easthampton. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS

By ALEXA LEWIS

Staff Writer

Published: 10-26-2024 3:19 PM

Modified: 10-27-2024 2:36 PM


EASTHAMPTON — Sonnet and Sparrow, a familiar part of the Cottage Street Cultural District filled with handpicked selections of sweaters, jewelry, home furnishings and more, will soon close its doors. The store’s owner, Cynthia West, said that it is time for her to retire and pursue other dreams.

From participating regularly in the city’s Art Walks to offering a quiet, intimate space to chat and browse, Sonnet and Sparrow has made itself an integral part of the community in its prominent Cottage Street location. With its ever-changing variety of second-hand goods, the store will continue to offer customers the chance to shop more sustainably while they search for unique items through the end of December.

West opened Sonnet and Sparrow with her daughter, McKenzie West, in 2019 after a career in marketing services and editorial writing. Having recently moved from southern New Hampshire, where she owned an arts and culture magazine, West found herself quickly immersed in the Easthampton community through her business.

“Contributing to the growth of Cottage Street has been a great pleasure, we’ve made incredible friends,” said West. “It’s been a great joy to meet such amazing people with shared interests.”

The attention to detail and flair for a rich lifestyle that West brought from her time working on her magazine translated easily to Sonnet and Sparrow, which she describes as a “mission-based business promoting curated thrift and lifestyle comforts.”

The store’s main goals were to allow the Wests to meet more people in their new community, and to “bring bounty to the valley in the form of second-hand premium clothing and fine furnishings,” West said. Over the years they have gotten to see these goals manifest as they deepened their ties to the community, and now West says that she and her family “look forward to supporting whatever new business endeavor leases the space.”

The Wests also owned and operated another Cottage Street business, The Flying Squirrel, which specialized in creating “artful interiors” with its array of home goods. But The Flying Squirrel closed a few months ago, when McKenzie West’s oil painting career started to take off.

McKenzie West now dedicates herself full time to her artistic pursuits, and her paintings are being represented in two Boston-area galleries. Her mother said she looks forward to dedicating more time to supporting her artistic career in retirement.

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Northampton fire crews contain brush fire in Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, work to put out blaze that swept through 52 acres
Easthampton woman pleads guilty to fatal stabbing of ex-boyfriend, sentenced to 16-19 years for manslaughter
Around the Hamptons: Easthampton family seeks help after car crashes into home
Chance Encounters with Bob Flaherty: A heartful of sound: Band Day with the ‘power and class of New England’
Northampton gateway properties near I-91, primed for development, bought as group
UMass basketball: New-look Minutemen eye opener with UNH to kick off final Atlantic 10 season

“I am eager to help her thrive,” said Cynthia West. “I’m also excited to help foster my son and daughter-in-law’s natural horsemanship endeavors.”

West’s son and daughter-in-law work with horses using “bitless and barefoot” methods, which West described as being “more symbiotic with the horse,” and less about mastering the animals.

A lifelong writer, West said she also looks forward to continuing and deepening her writing practice with the conclusion of her business endeavors.

But there is still time to pay Sonnet and Sparrow a visit. West said that the store will remain open and fully stocked through the end of December, and West invites the community to stop in before the end of the year to take part in the warm cashmere, slippers and other goods that the store offers.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.