No stranger to the City of Washington, Cindy Jowers is opening up her new store, The River Girl, on West Main Street Friday evening with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 p.m.

Jowers, who helped set up her friend Elaine Taylor’s store, Southern Nest, in May, also rented space from her. However, she felt it was time to go into business for herself she said.

“She needed a little bit of help putting her shop together and I had a few pieces, so I put them in her shop,” Jowers said. “May was a pretty good month, but I had been thinking about this since I came to Washington.”

Jowers said she will not be competing with Taylor or any other antique stores. Rather, she wants to work with all the antique stores in Washington.

In her new store, Jowers will take over a big portion of the space previously owned by Judy Williams, who ran Unique Gifts and Custom Frames. Williams decided to downsize her store, and that allowed Jowers to move in.

“She decided to stay and be in the back with her framing and I am in the front,” Jowers said.

Jowers said, The River Girl is going to be a blend of antiques, interior design and gifts.

“My gifts are usually antique gifts, and as I call them, time-worn gifts,” Jowers said.

The name of the store, River Girl, derives from Jowers love for the water, and living near the Tar River.

“I am actually the river girl, I am out there everyday,” Jowers said.

Jowers was an interior designer for 30 years in Columbia, S.C., but had left the business five years ago when she moved to eastern North Carolina. She will still help people organize their house at Christmas she said.

“I decided that I miss the design end of it so I said, ‘if I’m going to do this I’m going to open up my own shop,’” Jowers said.

Her decision to open a shop in Washington was based on her enjoyment of the city and the people who call it home.

“The people have such a charm about them, and I love the water,” Jowers said.

The River Girl is located at 238 W. Main St., in downtown Washington.