Opening Clover last November fulfilled a longtime dream for best friends Kyle Donovan and Julie Pitt. Less than a year later, the Marblehead entrepreneurs are beginning a new chapter — relocating their home interiors store to a larger, more visible storefront at 9 Pleasant St.
The Marblehead natives spent two years planning the business before combining Donovan’s background in real estate with Pitt’s interior design expertise to create Clover, a store featuring furniture, lighting, rugs and décor inspired by the town’s coastal character.
“We wanted people to walk in the door and say, ‘I can see that in my home,'” Pitt said. “We wanted a full range of everything.”
According to the owners, the most important part of Clover is that it is a full-service experience — including interior design.
A team member visits a customer’s home to get a taste of style. After that, Clover recommends materials.
“When we work with clients on projects, we like to find out the design style that is meant for their
home,” Pitt said. “We want their home to feel like a home.”
The opportunity for Clover’s next chapter came when the former Hunt & Gather clothing store on Pleasant Street became available. Donovan and Pitt decided the larger space was the right fit for Clover’s growing business.
With help from local high school and college interns, they moved everything from their Washington Street location into the new storefront, which offers roughly four times the space and improved parking.
After renovations that included fresh paint, new carpeting and custom carpentry completed by Pitt’s husband, Clover reopened in its new home.
The move has already paid dividends, Donovan said.
“Moving helped us rebrand ourselves,” she said. “The move rebirthed the vision we had.”
The new location has also introduced Clover to more customers, many of whom stop in while shopping downtown.
“People are happy there’s something like this here,” Pitt said.
As they look ahead, Donovan and Pitt hope to continue growing the business and expanding their reach into surrounding communities.
“The best part is that it’s a dream realized,” Donovan said.
