It’s a rainy night at the corner of Bendigo Boulevard and North Bend Way, in the heart of North Bend’s downtown, but business owner Nancy Wray’s new store is a warm, comfortable haven from the storm.

Wray’s shop, Birches Habitat, may not have had an official grand opening yet, but the eclectic new store, in the former space of Maguire Hill Real Estate, is already drawing in curious customers and passersby, thanks to the display of unique gifts, clothing, accessories, books and home decor in the windows.

“My philosophy with things for your home is, they should inspire you because they’re so beautiful, or they should make you laugh,” said Wray, who owns the store with husband Steve.

“I’ve worked in the city all my life,” Nancy Wray said. “I moved here because I love the mountain, I love the air. When I look out my window at work, I want to see my mountain. I want to work where I live; I want to bring what I know and love here.”

“Hopefully, people will find some things that they love, things that they need,” she added.

So far, customers’ reactions have been positive

“They’re just happy that there’s something in the Valley that’s just ‘shopping,’ that’s something that they’ve never seen before.”

Steve Wray described the new store as a potential part of a revitalized North Bend downtown pedestrian district.

The store’s unusual name is echoed by the wood and birch accents inside.

“It’s been something she’s thought about for a long time,” Steve Wray said. “She just loves trees.”

• Birches Habitat is located at 202 West North Bend Way, Suite A. Contact the business at (425) 292-9390.