Creating a zen experience amid the pandemic chaos – Maui News

Molly Payne makes sure everything is shipshape before opening the doors ofThe Shoppe by Hale Zen on Friday morning in Paia.The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Like an artist or set designer putting the finishing touches on their creation, Molly Payne moved about her new Paia store Friday morning with a calm focus. With a few last pieces of inventory to put on display before the doors opened for business, she was determined the items be presented just right.

Payne, a 2009 Lahainaluna High graduate, has been involved in retail sales her whole life. She knows what looks right on the shelf and has been taught by an expert how to elevate a customers shopping experience into soul therapy.

Opening The Shoppe by Hale Zen at 62 Baldwin Ave. during a pandemic last month was a gamble by Payne and her mom, longtime island retailer Lisa Payne. The two are betting their many years of experience, available inventory and ability to create soulful experiences for their clientele will carry them through.

I have always been a shop girl, Molly Payne said. It started with my mom. She has owned stores since I was a baby. I was pretty much born into the stores.

Lisa Payne said she and Toni Lopez opened Sandkastle Kids, a former Paia childrens store, in 1989. It was located not far up the street from the present location of The Shoppe by Hale Zen. Lisa now also owns Designing Wahine in Makawao and Hale Zen in Lahaina.

Molly Payne got her start in Paia retail when she was a week old. She poses inThe Shoppe by Hale Zen on Friday morning in Paia.The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

When I got pregnant with Molly, I worked right up until she was born, and then I went back to work when she was a week old, Lisa said. It is kind of in her blood. She has been around retail her whole life. I remember going to a San Francisco market with her when she was maybe 3 months old. She has been going on buying trips her whole life.

It was a buying trip to Las Vegas early this year that helped set the stage for the new Paia store. Expecting a big 2020 for Designing Wahine and Hale Zen, Lisa and Molly placed their largest batch of merchandize orders to date.

We were anticipating Spring 2020 was going to be gangbusters, Lisa said. We had more inventory rolling in than ever, and then we had to shut the doors.

When pandemic restrictions were lifted, the two stores reopened.

Its been doing well enough, Molly said. Of course, numbers are down, but the way we are looking at it, we would rather be open and make some money than be closed and make no money.

Lisa added that their stores currently employ 18 people.

Lahaina has about 80 percent local customers, Molly said. Makawao is about 50-50. We didnt realize how dependent we were on tourism until the pandemic hit.

So while the inventory was still rolling in, and the two other stores were gaining their feet by pivoting away from tourist-related items, an opportunity arose in Paia, a town that always intrigued them but seemed saturated with other stores. The owners of Luna & Tide elected to retire following an extensive build-out. After selling their inventory, they helped the Paynes have a seamless transition into the bright, airy space.

Suddenly, all that extra inventory had a place to go. In a flash, Molly had the store ready to open.

I said take the wheel and she did, Lisa said. We rented a U-Haul and started moving things. Shes a little lightning rod.

For a young businesswoman, Molly has already left her mark in several fields. After attending the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, she developed a womens accessory line that was picked up by Nordstrom and enjoyed success nationally.

She has since shifted her focus to retail and developing her interior design business. Her design of the Kapalua home of her pro surfer brother, Dusty Payne, was featured in Maui No Ka Oi Magazine. She completed her latest design project, a house on Oahu, just before the pandemic hit.

I havent seen it finished yet, Molly said.

Molly says it pains her to witness the hardships the economic downturn has caused.

It breaks my heart driving down Front Street, it is so dead, Molly said. I think the community needs to come together and do something. The economy will come back.

Lisa said the decision to move into Paia, where stores have been shuttered, involved making sure they did their best to be good neighbors.

We wanted to be very mindful, to not have overlap with other stores, Lisa said. Weve pivoted. Were trying to cater more to people who live here. We hope we get our tourists back, but were going to fill our space with products for people who live here.

* Matthew Thayer can be reached at thayer@maui.net.

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Creating a zen experience amid the pandemic chaos - Maui News