Explore the heart of Chester, and one will happen upon 14 Main St. Here, a pink, early-20th-century building with a double porch beckons. There’s something special about the blushing structure that goes beyond its hue. A painting of Gazi Pir, a Bengali Muslim saint, aback a tiger sparks intrigue. A fluttering flag emblazoned with a gentleman whose head is bursting with flowers makes one want to sprout foliage from their own gray matter. The name of this place? A sign declares: The Wayfinder Society — Global Wares & Curiosities, All Are Welcome. And yes, treasures await inside.
A journey occurs upon opening The Wayfinder Society’s door. What’s to be discovered depends on the day, as the second an item is sold, it’s replaced with another that’s completely unique. “Because of this, the store’s vibe is always changing,” Chris Howe, co-owner of The Wayfinder Society, says. “Some days you might encounter Hindu or Buddhist statuary, other times visual art or folk art carvings.”
Teasing with storied histories are items like a naga (dragon statue) from a Balinese temple, an antique Chinese wedding bed, a brass elephant-headed Ganesh statue, and globes from different decades. “We sell things that make us feel like we’re traveling when we’re not traveling,” says Shelby Howe, co-owner of The Wayfinder Society and Chris’ wife.
Still to be found are mounds of gems. “People tend to gravitate to the crystals and stones,” Chris says. Not wanting to miss a thing, customers often meander through the store in one direction, then switch directions for another round. A loop to the left may uncover a tome from the 1950s about diagnosing, disassembling and re-erecting electric motors perched next to a first printing of The Catcher in the Rye. A turn to the right might turn up jewelry, incense, balms, even cocktail ingredients.
The No. 1 request the Howes get from customers has nothing to do with curios. Chris says, “The question we receive most often — ‘Is Betsy working today?’” If on duty, Betsy, a smiling cattle dog mix with excellent ears, happily erupts from behind the cashier station for a belly rub.
The idea behind The Wayfinder Society was born during the pandemic. The Howes had been spearheading MissAdventures, a boutique tour company that leads solo women’s trips to Nepal, when COVID shut travel down. “We were always going to launch a store, but had targeted to do so in three to five years,” Chris recalls. “We found ourselves sitting on the couch feeling our brains shrink.” One day at their Guilford home, Shelby piped up, “Let’s take a ride to Chester.”
Childhood memories of riding on the back of her dad’s motorcycle to grab lunch at the Pattaconk 1850 Bar & Grille had stuck with Shelby. Having a store there seemed like, well, a dream. “I’ve always loved Chester, not to mention there are so many smart retailers and restaurateurs here.”
Expectations of finding a storefront to lease during the pandemic were low. Yet, there it was, a “for rent” sign in front of 14 Main. Within a week, the Howes signed a lease, and their dream went into hyperdrive.
Not knowing whether they would fail or thrive during such a tenuous time, Shelby went into the new business with a stalwart attitude. “I figured, if nothing else, I’d learn from the people — some of the most interesting in the world — that walk in these doors,” Shelby says. “That has shaken out to be true.”
There was something else, too. “It’s easy to find magic when you’re traveling, but we were travelers grounded by the pandemic,” Shelby says. “The Wayfinder Society has opened our eyes to everyday magic.”
Happily, The Wayfinder has thrived. Arrive on the night of a Chester First Friday event and a band is performing live music inside. Monday nights at 6:30 p.m., free meditation sessions are underway.
While perusing the shop, red paper hearts can be found with a sign proclaiming: Spread Love Recklessly. “They’re a little love letter I make during my meditations for the people who visit The Wayfinder,” Shelby says. Such an offering hasn’t gone unnoticed. The store also receives “love letters” from visitors. “A rock painted like a ladybug was left on the stairs,” Shelby says. “It was the most incredible gift.”
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