The Rural We: Emily Rachel Irwin
Emily Rachel Irwin is one of those rare, genuinely positive people. She and her husband Josh Irwin own the beloved Cantina 229 in New Marlborough, Massachusetts (set to reopen soon from a pandemic hiatus) and the stylish MoonCloud in Great Barrington. Now, joining MoonCloud on Railroad Street comes Irwin’s newest project, Home Love Berkshires. The boutique is stocked with gifts and housewares curated with the express goal of making people happy. The shop is a direct reflection of Irwin’s personality. The vibe is infectious.
I grew up in Stockbridge in the 70s, when people were starting to realize that the Berkshires were really cool, and it was starting to draw people in a different way. It’s changing again now, with so many people moving in from the cities but I see that as really cool. I love my regulars and I love people who are finding us for the first time.
When I was a kid we’d drive up Railroad Street to go to the auto parts store. It had this feel of history. To have MoonCloud and now Home Love in this really important part of Great Barrington feels really good.
I have been in restaurants and retail since I was 14 years old. I also have a psychology degree. When I think about hospitality I think about happiness and providing an experience customers will remember for life.
Inclusivity is huge to me. At MoonCloud we’ve worked hard on our mocktails because we want everyone, including non-drinkers, to be comfortable and get a great experience. When I made Home Love I wanted it to be for everyone. I have things for a dollar. I want people to feel that the store is for them. Every person who walks into Home Love says it makes them feel happy, and that’s what people need right now. That alone is gold to me.
Josh and I are excited that Cantina is opening back up on Memorial Day. That was a big question for us. We thought about selling but so many people reached out and told us what the place has meant to them over the years. We realized it’s become more than a restaurant to us and our community, and that the demand was still there.
Now we are looking into creating workforce housing. Josh has become really invested in it. It was an issue before the pandemic and it’s a bigger problem now. In everything we do we are trying to build community without losing all the good things we already have.
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