The Westport business has been open for almost 60 years. What started as a small store selling a fraction of the items has turned into an experience and destination for many, owner Louise Meyers says.

Meyers’ parents opened the business in 1968 in a 1,000-square-foot storefront down the street. As the business grew, so did the store’s merchandise. It’s important to Meyers to not only keep a lot of the same brands they’ve sold since the beginning, but also sell things that she loves and that help customers find the joy of cooking. Pryde’s has the largest selection of Fiesta dinnerware in the Midwest, and it’s also carried brands like Spode and Cordon Bleu for decades.

When you walk into Pryde’s, it’s hard to know where to look first. There are kitchen accessories, linens, appliances, and other decor, basically from the floor to the ceiling. The store has a rustic charm that makes it feel cozy and welcoming to chefs of any caliber, and that’s exactly Meyers’ goal.

Many of the store’s displays are repurposed vintage pieces, extending a rustic, genuine look. Meyers’ father was a “master recycler,” so using things like old hardware store fixtures is second nature to her. Her mom went to design school, so a combination of her eye for design and her father’s skills helped make the store what it is, Meyers says.