Judy's — a shopper's delight in Pear Alley

Story and photo by Marilyn Rosenthal MILFORD — If you’ve waited until the last minute or are just a shopaholic you may find yourself gravitating toward Judy’s. And as the sun rises in the morning, it’s guaranteed you will find something here that you may not really need, but absolutely can’t live without. Judy Recchia, a young woman who grew up in Milford, is the spirit and owner of this unique store. In addition to her custom-made lampshades, Judy has candles (5” to 24 “long), pillows, deer antler chandeliers, and a myriad of tasteful household furniture (large and small), as well as “perfect gifts.” She also provides an interesting array of home decorating services such as interior decorating, lamp repairs and rewiring, window treatments (drapes, blinds, shutters,) wall paper, interior painting including faux painting, and mural painting. Recchia has been “in the business” since she was a child of about 8. Her family owned a gift and antique shop on Broad Street where the bookstore is now. The family still owns that building and she remembers a lot of famous people who came to the shop to buy antiques—among them Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Andy Griffith once dropped in while filming a movie in the area. Today, Recchia still has many famous people coming into her store, particularly because of her sophisticated taste. In addition to local regulars, many also come from New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut. She uses much of the month of January to do all of her buying and frequents the big gift shows in Manhattan, Philadelphia, as well as some very special vendors that she deals with. When Recchia shops, she usually has various customers in mind and because she has been in her own business for 18 years, she knows them and their tastes. She will often call a customer when she has found something that she knows will be perfect for them. Sylvia Recchia, her mom, helps her in the shop. She is a soft-spoken woman who knows every inch of the stock and is Judy’s right and left arm, which someone like Judy—a creative free spirit—depends on. Her shop is truly a one for all seasons. In the fall, Judy’s features cut-out lit porcelain pumpkins, gourds, and sheathes of wheat. The shop looks like the oranges, yellows, and browns of fall. In spring and summer, they feature outdoor planters, birdbaths, fountains, silk florals, and glass-top iron tables. You can almost feel the sun indoors. In winter, the whole shop gets transformed into a Christmas wonderland, with many unique ornaments and other items at surprisingly affordable prices. There are all kinds of angels; tree-toppers, ornaments, statutes, mantel angels, porcelain angels, angels made of feathers, etc. There are birds, butterflies, Santas, candles that crackle like a wood burning fireplace when lit, and the Wendy Addison collection of houses and snowflakes that light up using real glitter from crushed glass. Judy likes to give back to the local community and has supported Gown and Downs, the Humane Society and the Black Bear film festival. She said among her most memorable moments was a visit to a long-term customer’s home and seeing that almost everything in the house was from her shop. ” It was an astounding thing to see all my pieces arranged so beautifully in a different environment. I could move right into this woman’s house and not change a thing.” That, coming from an interior decorator, is quite a statement. But then, Recchia is full of interesting surprises. One that she has for our readers is that if you bring in a copy of this article within the next two weeks, she will have a 10% discount for you. And your correspondent will be first in line. Judy’s — Home Furnishing and Decorative Accessories 220 Broad Street, Milford (in Pear Alley— behind the book store) Phone/Fax: 570-296-8626 Hours: Daily 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Closed Tuesdays