Grand fromage in curios and cheese

CURIOSITIES: Susan Ryan, of Mr Feather's Den in Featherston, a curio and art shop.PHOTO/PAUL ORDISH

In a roundabout way, a love of cheese could be credited for Featherston's thriving curio and art trade.

Susan Ryan and Paul Broughton, who have opened boutique cheese shop C'est Cheese, also run Mr Feather's Den vintage store on Fitzherbert St.

But they're not the only new additions to Featherston's small business collection.

Others springing up include hardware store The Colonial Trading Company Ltd, print shop Joey's Digital Designs and Everest cafe and bistro.

Miss Ryan said being "right at the start of Wairarapa" makes Featherston an ideal place for business.

The duo were looking to set up a cheese manufacturing business and shop and chose Featherston because it is close to several dairy farms.

Miss Ryan has been a curio collector for years and she goes to garage sales to find items for her store.

Mr Feather's Den features work from Wairarapa artists, including Miss Ryan's art.

Explaining the burst of growth in Featherston Miss Ryan said "people are just getting spurred on by the fact it's happening".

The pair opened Mr Feather's Den in 2012 and C'est Cheese three weeks ago.

With C'est Cheese open, Miss Ryan said both stores had been busy during the festive season.

Motelier and South Wairarapa district councillor Colin Olds said over the Christmas holiday period he was having to turn people away from his full motel and holiday camp. "The town is ripe for commercial developments," he said.