LEOMINSTER — Walking through the doors at Dragon’s Leyr is like entering a magical world filled with a plethora of mystical treasures that tantalize the senses.
Fragrant incense and candles, majestic statues of Buddha and Medusa and Roman gods and goddesses, talismans, tarot cards and books on tarot and astrology, gorgeous crystals of all types and hues and shapes, marble mortar and pestles and so much more are offered at the multigenerational business owned by longtime Leominster resident Melissa Bernier.
“Our gift shop has grown so much over the last five years and has become very popular,” she said of the 875 Merriam Ave. store.
Bernier has strong ties to the area. Born and raised in Leominster, where both her parents are from, she has lived in the city for most of her life. Her late husband took over his father’s business, the original Dragon’s Leyr in Vermont, when he passed away in 1996. After the birth of their daughter the Fitchburg native wanted to open something closer to home so he launched the shop on Central Street in 1999.
Bernier inherited the business when her husband passed away from cancer in July 2001 and decided to expand the store by opening the Parkhill Plaza location in Fitchburg five years ago. At the end of 2020 she decided to “merge both stores into one beautiful location” after space became available in the Twin City Plaza.
“It made sense because of everything with COVID and all of the vape changes to just focus on one store,” she shared.
There are three other women-owned businesses within the Dragon’s Leyr space: Ink Pot, run by Jeanne Racine, who has been tattooing for over a decade; Soulful Body & Mind Apothecary owned by Jamie Meza, a licensed herbalist who supplies herbs and medicinal tinctures and teas to Dragon’s Leyr and will be teaching workshops in her new space in Baldwinville when she opens her own location Feb. 6; and Spoiled Beauty helmed by Lori Campbell, who creates handmade bath and beauty products as well as handcrafted gifts.
When asked what some of their most well-liked items are she said crystals, “spiritual items” such as books, tarot, tools and candles, and Furry Bones are some of the top sellers. In addition, vapes for dry herbs and concentrates and rolling papers and glass pipes made in the U.S. from glass blowers all over the country are also popular.
She said she relishes being a female business owner and her own boss and “enjoys everything about it.”
“Mostly the freedom and flexibility in my schedule that has allowed me to be able to have more time raising my children,” she shared of the perks. “On the other hand, you are always on call because you are the boss. Balancing it all has been challenging at times, but I have a great team to help with that.”
Bernier is known for treating her staff like family and, in some cases, team members are indeed related to her by blood or marriage. Racine is her late husband’s sister and additional family members including her father and brother make up the team of nine employees, half of whom have been with her for five years or more.
They spend time with each other outside work not only as a way to build group morale but because they enjoy doing it.
“I have an amazing team,” Bernier relayed. “They are like family, and I wouldn’t be here without them and everything they do.”
Becca Desjardins has worked at Dragon’s Leyr for five years after leaving a career in corporate retail. She said she knew Bernier’s late husband and came on board just before the Fitchburg location opened when Bernier sent her a message asking when she could start.
“I made it through two moves,” Desjardins said of her history with the business. “I’m a lifer, I decided that already.”
She said she has “no regrets” about leaving her other job and that she appreciates that Bernier is also a fellow mom and understands how important that is and is more than willing to be flexible “if my kids are sick.”
“We are all one big family,” Desjardins said of the staff and business owners who all work under the Dragon’s Leyr umbrella. “Very tight-knit, we love it.”
They will soon be adding 2,000 square feet of space to their total square footage when they take over the shop next door and knock down the wall between them.
“We are so excited to be expanding,” Bernier said, adding that they are hoping to be all settled into the new space late this month.
“Our gift shop is growing, and we also wanted room to be able to hold events, workshops and classes to feed the mind, body and spirit,” she said of what inspired the addition. “We are looking to offer anything people are interested in learning about whether it’s for healing, meditation, crafts, cannabis, or spirituality. We want to support local small businesses to form a community and to help connect them to customers looking for these services (and) we will have space for rent for these events.”
Bernier said Dragon’s Leyr has been “received well all around” by the greater community throughout the years and that she “tends to ignore all the negatives.”
“I am very thankful and would like to say thank you for all of the support we’ve had over the past 23 years,” she said when asked how she feels about those who continue to support her business, both loyal and new patrons. “We would not be here without our amazing customers and community. I look forward to and welcome anyone new to check us out.”
