Traditions store more accessible in new home

Regina Sarmento started her new store, Traditions, in the Town Square Mall, then moved to Market Place on Second on the west side of the Newton square, and is now comfortably settled into her new location at 210 First Ave W.

Sarmento enjoys cooking and spending time with family around the dining room table. Traditions, which she now operates with the help of her daughter Allison White reflects her enthusiasm for food and fun.

“My passion is hospitality and entertaining,” Sarmento said. “I enjoy bringing friends and family together around food. How can we come together and have a good old time?”

Through a variety of vendors, Sarmento has put together an assortment of unusual items for the cook with flair. Colorful dish sets, unique but useful items you didn’t know you needed cram the shelves. For instance, cruet sets that allow the cook to infuse olive oil for extra flavor; a finger guard to wear while chopping vegetables; pitchers for infusing fruit for delicious flavored water; salsa bowls, specialty foods and dips; colorful aprons; fun cooking kits for the kids.

“I like color,” Sarmento said. “These conversation pieces make cooking fun.”

She finds many of her unusual items through her vendors, who recommend other items in their catalogs.

A gift registry is available to customers as well, for brides or for birthdays or holidays.

Sarmento said she made the latest move on Feb. 1.

“We’re excited to be here where people can see us,” Sarmento said. For old-time Newton residents, Traditions is located in the former Van’s Health Food Store.

Sarmento said she encourages customers to enter a tradition to a scrapbook while they are in the store, such as what their family does every Christmas Eve, or a yearly family event for Easter. Eventually, Sarmento says she plans on putting all the traditions into a booklet

Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“My store is about building community and friendships, so people can stay healthy,” Sarmento said.

John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via email at jjennings@newtondailynews.com.