New owner believes Moncton is ready for modern design

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A Moncton entrepreneur is banking on Monctonians' growing taste for more urbane, modern furniture styles with purchase of a retail store specializing in modern designed furniture and accessories.

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Greg Agnew/Times & Transcript

Louiselle NoÎl ,seated has recently purchased Era Urbano in the Brown and Holder building at 264 Botsford. The store offers modern furniture for a mopdern Moncton. Pauline BlacquiËre standing is the store manager.

Louiselle Noel is the new owner of Era Urbano at 264 Botsford St., Moncton, which carries elegantly designed ensembles from bedroom suites and dining room sets to comfortable, chic sofas, chairs and many accessories for the home including gift items.

The items are moderately priced on up for those wanting to switch to a more modern decor for their homes.

Noel said she became interested in the retail business last year when owner Rene Claude Roy of Design Plus Inc. suggested a partnership for the business he created a few years ago. Instead, Roy who has other business interests offered to sell it this spring and Noel agreed to buy. The two businesses share the same premises, the former Brown Holder Building.

Noel has a interest in interior design and feels Moncton is ready for upscale modern pieces. She also has plans for the future including carrying furniture and accessories for young people and children.

Pauline Blacquiere, store manager, has been with the business for two years and sees people coming in from outside Moncton and sometimes outside the province to shop. A lot of young couples moving in from Montreal or Ottawa, for example, are pleased to find a location catering to more modern designed furniture, she said.

Part of the operation involves helping clients with design plans for their homes whether for one piece of furniture to entire ensembles.

The furniture comes from Canada and the United States to as far away as Italy and Denmark. The closest rival store would be Halifax and in Quebec, she said.

Blacquiere said she sees more and more people looking for more upscale furniture and modern decor.

The company does have some traditional pieces of furniture but the emphasis is on contemporary styles.