Photos: Daisy Nelson
Located along the Bridgewater Channel by the historic London Bridge — the largest antique ever purchased — is a quaint shop that carries everything you need for a day on Lake Havasu in Arizona. From beachwear to accessories, jewelry and flip-flops, the year-round family-owned business delivers a lake shack themed experience in a major tourist destination.
Finch says Beach House runs a busy spring and summer business by keeping up with trends, including offering brands like Salty Crew apparel and Maui and Sons surf shirts and boardshorts. “Being by the water, we keep it casual and fun!” she says.
Maximizing space
Beach House Havasu is a prime example of how special things come in small packages — and the shop wisely uses every square foot of display space to showcase lake-themed products. The store is the size of a bedroom with a Tudor style exterior that complements the shopping district’s English vibe. Yet inside, it’s all about soaking in everything Lake Havasu.Vertical presentation allows the shop to maximize the area. “We utilize every bit of space we can, getting creative when necessary to display what we have to sell,” Finch says.
As for product selection, Finch builds an inventory of fun-loving, beachy items and says that in spite of being on the lake, customers are still after coastal themes that feel like vacation. “When I am shopping for merchandise, I look for prints with water, palm trees, boats and vibrant colors,” she says. “It is really similar to beach and coastal.”
“We refresh our stock constantly,” Finch adds. “We look forward to our spring season with all the latest trends with our beach brands. After a cool winter, we are ready for the warm-weather season products. Hats, cover-ups, swimwear, tees and flip-flops are a must.”
The shop also carries fun buys that aren’t specifically lake focused but are appealing to those on vacation who are in an “anything-goes” mood. For example, vintage ballcaps bearing “Thelma,” “Louise” or “Don’t Make Me Go Beth Dutton on You!” are spontaneous good-time buys for the ladies. So are canvas tote bags made from repurposed canvas and military tents that are available in a variety of patterns.
“I work hard to search for products that you might not see in every other touristy shop.” — Stephanie Finch
Seasonal variations
While the shop is open year-round, Beach House Havasu focuses on winter staples during the cold months. “We bring in some hoodies and crewneck fleece, as well as long-sleeve T-shirts,” Finch describes.She refers to Lake Havasu as “a bubble” that is a relaxing get-away “when the world is a little crazy.” In fact, this atmosphere is what drew her and her family to the lake 31 years ago, where they raised three children and are now grandparents. “We love the small-town, patriotic vibe we have here.”
And as for Beach House Havasu, Finch says, “I feel our store is unique because of our friendly atmosphere, the decor and the location, of course!”