OSTERVILLE — Two Yarmouth residents have transformed the former Village Barber Shop at 770 Main St. Osterville into a family business.

Soft-launching Saturday and opening Monday, Aug. 2 is Nut House Candles, "from our nut house to yours," with barber Ruy Carvalho's blessing and a scented soy candle named "Barber Shop Quartet" for sale in his honor.

Lauren Coyle, the former co-owner of S. Yarmouth's Good Morning Cafè, and her daughter Meghan, DY Class of 2017 and now a special ed teacher at Hanover High School, plan to sell soy candles in an array of scents customized in their own kitchen.

"I used to get her candles all the time for special occasions," Meghan said. "Candles were the go-to gift."

"It's taken over the whole house," Lauren said. "The pantry has turned into a storage cabinet."

The family's windfall income tax refund gave them the means to grow their enterprise beyond selling online at Etsy, Shopify and Mercari and secure retail space.

Other offerings include custom-scented candles like This Old Nut House, a light fragrance with a touch of cinnamon; Tropical Fruit Bowl; Mama's Mud Pie; Mimi's Pecan Pie; Rosa Regusa; Morning Dew; and Heaven Scent. 

"I don't want to be cut-and-paste," Lauren said. "For July 4, Meghan made a layered, red, white and blue candle, and each layer was a different scent: Strawberry, Lemon and Blueberry. For fall, I'll make Zuccini Bread-scented candles." 

Their business partner, Dan Pickett, formerly of Sur la Table at Chestnut Hill, will be onsite to staff the Osterville store.

In an age of heightened awareness and sensitivity toward mental health issues spawned by the pandemic, will Osterville consider this a faux pas?

Not when they meet the owners, who firmly believe that to keep a light burning in remembrance signifies that a memory lives on and burns bright."

Scurry over for a sneak peak of the "squirrel's nest" candle store on Saturday, July 31, 3:30-6 p.m. and meet the self-professed "squirrel brains" who made it happen.

A portion of the afternoon sales will benefit Cayla Lemire, who is working to buy a wheelchair-accessible van.

"When I open the doors, I want people to feel they're walking into a living room," Lauren said. "I just want a homey feeling. Too bad we can't keep the barber chair – it's just too big."

Nut House Candles is located behind Wimpy's Seafood Cafe at 770 Main St., Osterville. Hours of operation:  Mon-Sat 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bulk orders and gift boxes with custom labels also available. 774-722-3537 or visit Nut House Candle Co on Facebook.