High Desert Pine opens doors in Downtown Carson City offering local art, apparel, and more
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 2:03pm
A new business has opened its doors in Downtown Carson City this week, just in time for the lead up to Nevada Day.
High Desert Pine, owned by Mike and Rebecca Moser, offers unique artwork, gifts, apparel, toys and more, all with a local flair.
“We’re a downtown brick and mortar business, but we collaborate with different artists both local and across the state,” Moser said. “We have partners in woodworking, metal artisans, painters, fine art photography, and much more.”
Moser’s grandparents lived in North Lake Tahoe since the 1970s, and his exposure to the lake led him into a career in travel and tourism.
However, after starting a family, he wanted to focus more on being part of and helping to build community, which is why he chose to start High Desert Pine in Carson City.
“We are artist-direct, which means there aren’t a lot of middle men,” Moser said. “It helps create a ton of value for the community to get something reasonably priced that’s unique.”
Unlike other businesses selling art, Moser said he is heavily involved in the design and artwork of what comes into the shop.
“It’s not necessarily something you flip through a catalog and choose to sell,” Moser said. “It’s a mix between custom made works, new art, and antiques.”
The antiques currently on display for sale in the shop are handmade Nevada maps with caricatures crafted almost 100 years ago in the silver state.
Customers to the shop will be able to find an assortment of Nevada-centric gifts, art, clothes, and toys through Nevada Day; however, Moser said, works will be shifting throughout the year to reflect seasons and holidays so customers will be constantly refreshed on what is offered in the shop.
“This is a place that people from all generations with all interests can enjoy,” Moser said. “There’s something for everyone.”
Now through Nevada Day, each customer who makes a purchase of $1 or more will be entered into a raffle for a custom made, full-sized wooden Nevada Flag which will be raffled on Nevada Day.
Moser is also seeking new artists who live locally and wish to collaborate.
“I’d encourage anyone doing any (art) locally in town that wants to collaborate with a brick and mortar to reach out and showcase what you do,” Moser said.
While Moser is community oriented, he also wanted the shop to be a central location for tourists to the capital city searching for gifts and mementos.
“We’ve only been open a week and I’ve been surprised by (how far tourists have traveled),” Moser said. “We’ve had people from the midwest, the northeast, Germany and Austria; I expected more people that live and work in downtown, but I’ve been surprised at the variety of tourists as well. It’s a shop that the local community can appreciate but that’s also fun for tourists to enjoy as well.”
The shop is open most days from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with extended hours on weekends, holidays, and for special events.
The shop is located at 206 N. Carson St. in Carson City, and you can learn more about High Desert Pine on any social media by searching their handle @highdesertpine
