Lucyja Hygge will move near Overton Square in early October
Maria Tyszka plans to open Lucyja Hygge in a new location the first week of October. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)
Lucyja Hygge, the store that sells incense, candles and essential oils from a short-lived stint in a 20th century house on South McLean Boulevard, is moving to 2075 Madison Ave. near Overton Square.
Owner Maria Tyszka plans to open the first week of October in the new location, with space for her retail loose teas, aromatherapy products and her well-known sound bowl healing, plus mediation and reiki practice.
“There’s a courtyard there. It’s beautiful. It gives you the New Orleans vibe,” Tyszka said. “It is perfect.”
Lucyja Hygge, named for Maria’s Polish mother-in-law and the Scandinavian word for comfortable conviviality, opened in 2020 in the stately old home at 48 S. McLean Blvd.
The home is scheduled to be torn down to make way for the Atrium of Midtown, an assisted living facility that developers Ed Apple and Eddie Kircher plan to build on four lots, 34-48 S. McLean.
They gave Tyszka until early September to vacate so demolition can begin.
In the meantime, developer Taylor Caruthers saw news coverage of the soon-to-be displaced Lucyja Hygge, and made a trip to the shop to meet Tyszka and invite her to see his space. She was in the process of telling a staff member her job would be ending Aug. 27.
“He came right in before her tears dropped,” Tyszka said. “I said, ‘Lily, an angel just came in here and gave you your job.’”
The new shop is in the same building as Maggie’s Pharm, which Caruthers sees as a natural fit.
“I think they will complement each other. If Maria’s out of something, customers could go there,” he said.
“I also felt sorry for her, getting kicked out of her building. I had some space opening up, which I thought would be great for her on the square.”
To capitalize on the foot traffic in Overton Square, Lucyja Hygge will be open Friday and Saturday nights until 9 p.m.
Tyszka will move many of the fixtures from the house to the new shop, including the display areas her husband built and the check-out counter, hoping to bring some of the old into the new.
Meanwhile, the Land Use Control Board signed off on a variance for the assisted living center, allowing it to be four stories instead of the three stipulated in the Memphis 3.0 plan.
Midtown resident Robert Gordon has appealed the LUCB decision, which means the request for height variance now must be approved by the city council. It is expected to hear the case in late August.
Lucyja Hygge will close on McLean at the end of the month. Tyszka will move merchandise in September.
“We have use of the courtyard too, so we can offer free yoga there and other events,” she said.
“It’s a dream come true.”
Topics
Lucyja Hygge Maria Tyszka Taylor Caruthers Maggie's PharmJane Roberts
Jane Roberts has reported in Memphis for more than 20 years. As a senior member of The Daily Memphian staff, she was assigned to the medical beat during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has done in-depth work on other medical issues facing our community, including shortages of specialists in local hospitals. She covered K-12 education here for years and later the region’s transportation sector, including Memphis International Airport and FedEx Corp.
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