The Roost: The canvas where good deeds and paint mix

Follow the painted sidewalk just a few steps to the left of The Town House Restaurant and enter a world packed wall-to-wall with handcrafted goods made for Oviedo by Oviedo artists and crafters.

Whether you’re shopping for holiday decor, jewelry, sculptures, drawings or candles, it’s all handmade, and it’s all at The Roost.

Located at the end of North Central Avenue in Oviedo, The Roost rests under the bright blue “Gifts” sign slapped to the front of a pastel yellow building.

The Roost, a nonprofit gift shop in partnership with The Town House, opened three years ago with a name to represent Oviedo’s famous rooster mascot and one goal in mind: give back to the community.

In honor of owner Leigh Ann Tepper’s daughter, Haley, who has a brain injury, 30% of The Roost’s proceeds are dedicated to serving those living with disabilities.

The store’s cause hits close to home for The Roost manager Sarah Burton, whose sister is disabled.

“It’s just where our heart is. It really, really is,” Burton said. “I know that [the disabled community] needs resources here and they don’t have enough. So if we can help them get there, then we do.”

Burton’s journey with Tepper began 10 years ago when she worked as Haley’s caretaker.

Tepper combined her love for arts and crafts with her and Burton’s dedication to the disabled community. Turning creativity into compassion, The Roost was born.

“Now we have [The Roost] because our kids are all grown and we don’t need to be at the house all the time, so this is our next step of what we can do to give back,” Burton said.

In the future, Burton said The Roost team hopes to expand their initiative by getting those living with a disability involved in the store’s daily operations, such as labeling products or running the register.

“They can work for us and learn their life skills with us,” Burton said. “We need places like that where they can be involved in our community.”

After three years in business, The Roost is pushing along toward its goal. And, the store’s mission is kept alive by an army of local and artists.

Of the 86 vendors whose artworks and creative goods are sold though the store, Burton said 81 are Oviedo residents brought together by word of mouth, social media and a luncheon calling all artists.

“We just slowly started, and one person led to another person,” Burton said.

When walking through the aisles filled to the brim with colorful, one-of-a-kind crafts, customers have the opportunity to meet some of the vendors as they volunteer their time to work in the store.

Pen and ink artist Robert Score spends his newly found free time as a retired mechanic helping customers at The Roost.

Despite living in Deltona, Score makes the drive to donate his time to The Roost.

“I have to have something to do because you can’t just sit down and watch TV 24 hours a day,” he said.

Between customers, Score tucks away behind a desk in the back of the store to continue working on intricate drawings of aircrafts, nature and machinery, which each take 20 hours to create. 

“You have to focus, especially with pen and ink drawing,” Score said. “There’s no broad wash. Everything is like painting your house with a toothpick.”

Score has been drawing for nearly 47 years. His drawings hold a sense of nostalgia for him, as most of them relate to memories of Score’s childhood home on a farm and his time spent in New York.

For about $15 to $20, his 20 hours of detailed drawing can be bought at The Roost.

He said his partnership with The Roost allows him to connect with the community and expand his art’s reach. 

“It’s an easy way to sell your stuff, and you’re giving back,” Score said.

The Roost’s location next door to The Town House has also increased the store’s foot traffic, as Score said people often stop by to shop after eating.

Beyond connecting with buyers, The Roost has become a social hub for the artists who sell their work in the store.

Score said working with The Roost has introduced him to numerous artists and craftspeople who he can turn to for artistic advice.

“I don’t get out that much. When you’re retired you don’t have much else place to go,” Score said. “So it’s nice to come out and see somebody else is doing something similar and has the same brain waves.”

The Roost is a canvas where paint mixes with candle making, quilting, sewing and sculpting.

“When you come in here, you see stuff that you won’t see any place else,” Score said. “You’ll get something here you won’t find any place in the world.” 

Much of the merchandise found at the Roost holds true to its Oviedo roots by featuring the town mascot, the rooster.

Burton said the store’s inventory is updated every week with new pieces from vendors.

Customers can also find UCF merch, books, bags, clothes, wine glasses, water bottles and more.