Sybil’s Yarn Shop Receives State Phoenix Award
By GAYANE TOROSYANCOOPERSTOWN
From the ashes of a devastating fire, Sybil’s Yarn Shop has found a new home in Cooperstown, its rebirth recognized August 4 with the New York Small Business Development Center’s Phoenix Award.
The award, presented to owner Jeanetta Osterhoudt, honors businesses that overcome significant adversity and successfully rebuild. Less than a year after a fire destroyed Sybil’s Yarn Shop in Milford, state and local officials, NYSBDC representatives, customers, and community supporters gathered at the Pioneer Street shop to celebrate its recovery.
Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh said the loss of the Milford business was felt throughout the region and praised Osterhoudt’s determination to reopen.
“Milford and Cooperstown, we are … we work together on many things, and we were all so saddened about the terrible fire in Milford, and particularly about the loss of her shop, which was one that was really frequented and popular,” said Tillapaugh. “So, we are overjoyed that she is here as a female entrepreneur, on our Pioneer Street, right off our Main Street, so hopefully a lot of traffic. I know a lot of locals are super excited, and hopefully the business has been good.”
“It’s been wonderful, absolutely!” Osterhoudt said. “I am very happy to be here. The fiber community came together to get me back in business. They threw a fundraiser for me, my neighbor Emilie Rigby founded that, and it quickly outgrew this space, which is where it was supposed to be, and we took over the entire farmers’ market. And it was just a packed night in August, and everyone was there, loving fiber, and loving on me, and it was very humbling.”
