One-of-a-Kind Fullerton Shop Keeps Alive the Spirit of Elegance in local Historic Home “Expect the unique” is the slogan of John Reed’s interior décor store Le Potager, and visitors to the store are never disappointed by the enchanting collection of antiques housed inside a local treasure. Le Potager, located in the historic West Brookdale section of town, opened in August of 2000 and will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year during the upcoming holidays with events including champagne toasts, raffles and live music.

I spoke to owner John Reed about his unusual pathway to the field of iinterior design. He never received any formal training in his field, but instead had worked at a variety of jobs including delivering singing telegrams for florists, serving as a wedding singer, and working at a garden shop. But what inspired him to create his own realm of décor were memories of his aunt and uncle’s house in Kansas City. Their European décor included antiques and copper kitchen ware that created a memorable warmth and uniqueness in their home.

Near his home on Malvern was an antique store, which he had wistfully admired, and when he saw a For Rent sign on the door, he applied and took possession of the property. The 103 year old historic home had been built by local businesswoman Lillian E. Yeager, who was famed as the first woman in Southern California to become an automobile agent. Lillian managed to open a Dodge dealership in downtown Fullerton and became wealthy selling cars at a time when women did not yet have the right to

vote. She hired Fullerton’s only architect at the time, Frank Benchley, to design her home in the Spanish colonial style.

Benchley went on to design other iconic structures around town, including the California Hotel (Villa del Sol), the Muckenthaler Cultural Center and the Spring Field Banquet Center. The outward elegance and magic of the house would be the perfect container for his distinctive vision of the inside. As John explained, “the house would be the frame, and inside I would paint the picture.” Visitors entering the home are now astonished at the abundance of unique items that capture a perfect sense of “rustic elegance”. French café music plays in the background and the smell of cinnamon matches the antique copper pots and tile paintings, candles and wreaths, John showed me a shiny copper lavabo hanging on the wall and explained that before there was plumbing, homes and churches had handwashing basins available for the public’s use.

A gleaming copper tank of water mounted on wood and a basin below allowed one to wash hands. Now it is an enchanting wall piece. Each room has its own aesthetic, one evoking an English hunting lodge, a crystal ice palace. The former kitchen has many delicious food products, including French Dijon mustard flavored with green peppercorns or a black cherry confit. One of the most popular culinary items is authentically crafted French sea salt caramel. Originally, John made trips to Europe to uncover the aesthetic of the countryside, and was inspired to name the store in France, where a “potager” is a kitchen garden. Now he continually turns up unique items from dealers and importers

here in the US.

Many stores offering décor or design products are located in malls or big box stores, where products are stacked on sterile shelves. However this store has been John’s passion project and labor of love for a quarter of a century. He recounts that his small business, like many others, has been hurt by the prevalence of online shopping. I asked what is different about shopping at local unique stores and he explained that stepping through the door into his physical domain is a soulful experience that many

find therapeutic.

John’s spirit of elegant design is not the only one customers sometimes sense. Many visitors also feel the presence of Lillian, who died in the house in 1978 at the age of 90. So common is the impression that her ghost is still residing in the home, that the North Orange County Paranormal investigators have conducted investigations and captured intriguing auditory and visual footage on the premises. John himself has had otherworldly encounters with Lillian’s spirit, and says goodbye to Lillian each night when he turns off the lights.

The house will be a featured stop on this year’s Haunted Fullerton Walking Tours, an annual fundraiser for the Fullerton Museum Center. John Reed feels that it is his mission to contribute his talents to the community, by providing a truly timeless refuge of beauty. As a tribute to the beauty of the premises, he and his wife chose to get married in the store, with the beautiful backdrop all around the couple. A visit to the store is an escape from stress and care, and as he observes, “people never leave the store unhappy”. He encourages the community to make a point of patronizing all the small businesses in downtown Fullerton. It is a reminder that our one-of-a-kind local businesses and buildings are irreplaceable and valuable.