LAKE WORTH BEACH – Denise Savela fulfilled her lifelong dream on November 8. 12. On that day, she opened The Cozy Cottage LWB.
Her husband Tim died in December. The pandemic has kept her confined to her Lake Worth beach home for far too long. Two close friends ten years her junior also died. Her arthritis was getting worse.
“I decided to live boldly. I chose to be happy. That’s why I did it. It was a life-changing experience,” said the 61-year-old Detroit native as he walked gingerly through the Dixie Highway Antiques and Craftsmen Gallery Among the myriads of colored lace, stained glass, paintings and other handcrafted works of art.
Economics is what keeps most small business owners up at night. They worry about managing expenses, insurance, paying employees, and keeping customers happy.
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Money isn’t her motivation, Savela candidly admits. She tapped on her heart and wiped away tears, saying she was inspired to change after Tim passed away. “Tim passed away at the end of the pandemic, just when we could start living again. I realized how short and precious life is,” she said.
Savela rekindles old high school friendships. She was at her 40th high school reunion. She researched her ancestors.
One of her new friends is Nancy Kumpulainen, an artist and longtime resident of College Park’s Lake Worth Beach. “Denise is very passionate about this. I’m excited to be a part of it,” says Kumpulainen, who creates handmade collage art at Cozy Cottage.
Before opening Cozy Cottage, Savela turned down offers from friends to travel to Alaska with them, a decision she now regrets. But after Tim died, a friend invited her to Argentina as well.
The glorious eight days were still fresh in her memory. “In Buenos Aires, they had a happy, energetic life. They had coffee in the beautiful town square. There was a marionette show. It brought me back to life,” she said.
Upon returning, she noticed that a building on the North Dixie Freeway that had been vacant for about eight years was being rented out. She knows the owner. She offered to rent the 700-square-foot building. The master accepted.
Gallery selling handcrafted art, paintings and stained glass by local artists
Savela spent about $12,000 on financing, redecorating and painting the robin-egg blue walls. She called her artist friends and asked them to exhibit their work at The Cozy Cottage. Savela receives a portion of the sale price and a commission on sales.
Nora makes art glass and paintings. Nancy works in the art of collage. Cathy makes origami designs. Kimberly produces rope lights.
“I want people to come here and feel happy,” Savela said.
Like most entrepreneurs, Savela has had a colorful business career.
She came to Lauderhill, Broward County in 1982 while working at Little Caesars Pizza in Detroit. She moved to Palm Beach County in 1984 while working at The Gap. In the late ’90s, she and a partner ran a roller hockey league.
“We have about 750 players. We lease the Atlantis Skateway,” she said.
She received a degree in Marketing and Communications from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2000. She worked in the admissions department of PBAU until 2003. For the past five years, she has been working remotely for a marketing and real estate firm.
She loves the location of her eclectic store. The New Church of the Nazarenes is located to the south. Amigos Grocery and McMow Art Glass straddle Dixie Highway. The Tropical Detail car wash is to the north. Private houses and apartments are located to the east.
Savelas hopes to maintain the spirit created in November. 12 Live Grand Opening. A guitarist plays music. Friends and family came over. People are buying and discussing art.
“I want Cozy Cottage to be a happy, colorful place where people can have community events, take classes and make friends,” she said.