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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Linco's Pottery Nook has changed locations, and it's about time, said owner Linco Mulders, speaking from the floor of her new store on Franklin Avenue in a small strip mall across the road from Chateau Nova.

Linco Mulders, owner of Linco's Pottery Nook, stands in front of the store's new location on Franklin Avenue. - Guy Quenneville/NNSL photo

"I think it's the best location for me yet," said Mulders, positively brimming about the new 5,000 square foot store.

"I think it suits the store more. It's a lot homier. I like the street level. I like the big windows with all my stuff showing out, the great parking... I love it here."

Linco's, which sells pottery, gift ware and jewelry among other things, was previously located above True Value Hardware on 51 Street, but the place just didn't sit right with Mulders, who's been in business for nine years.

"That was not a great location for me," she said. "It was not a happy place. It was very commercial."

The new location offers more parking options, she added.

While the Franklin Avenue may seem smaller than her previous lot, it actually comes out to about the same thing.

"There's a lot of hidden space here," she said.

"I have an office in the back and a storage and receiving area in the back. What you see is not all there is."

Mulders, who runs the store with two nieces who come after work and on Saturdays, was planning the move for two-and-a-half years. It was very much a do-it-yourself project.

"I did all of the work myself with my nieces and nephews and two grown sons," she said.

"We didn't hire anybody. We just worked non-stop to pull this together."

Asked why, she replied "It's just my nature.

"I like to do things myself and not hire anyone until I absolutely need to. I like to get 'er done."

Working with family has its advantages, she added.

"I love the family part. I get to create these amazing relationships with my nieces. I have two grown sons, but this is not really a guy place.

"They helped me with the move, but they're on to boy things now."

One service that will have to wait until Mulders is more settled in is pottery painting.

"It's a part of the business I've had since the beginning.

"It's where a person can come out and pick out a ceramic piece, paint it. I give all the help they need to get the piece finished, design ideas if they need it. I fire the piece in a kiln for them - bake it, essentially."

While the service has remained popular, Mulders said she hasn't had time to re-launch it, but is considering doing so next year.

Debbie Grayston, a customer who saw the new store for the first time Monday, said she much preferred the new store to the old one

"I think the other one was too big," said Grayston.

"You seemed to take a long time to shop around, whereas this one everything seems to be nicer set up. More homey."