Kristin Seim
by Kathleen Downey
Kristin Seim, owner of The Dragons Nest
Kristin Seim happily watches over a magical, mythical kingdom where there are plush animals to cuddle (including stuffed dragons!), games and puzzles to bend the mind, books that transport readers to faraway places, and an assortment of unusual toys. But toys are more than simple play objects in Seim’s Market Square shop, The Dragon’s Nest; they are the source of wonder and delight to her young, wide-eyed visitors. “Kids are amazed when they come into my store,” says Seim. “They’re just so happy; I love being around that kind of wonder.”
When I stepped into The Dragon’s Nest on a rainy and dreary Monday afternoon, Seim’s natural effervescence further illuminated the brightly lit shop. Several children sat on the floor and played a game while their parents watched. “Kids feel safe here,” Seim tells me. She is proud that her store is the kind of destination business that offers not only the wares that children cherish and wish for, but also provides an environment conducive to innocence . . . where kids can be kids. I ask if she worries that her store might be considered more of a play destination, rather than a purchase destination. Seim answers me with a smile that is natural and sincere and says, “I don’t mind if parents bring their children to visit with the toys or to play games, because they usually come back to purchase.” She describes her customer base as “wonderful:” locals who account for much of her repeat business, and the tourists who are drawn to Newburyport for the festivals and charm—and who happen upon her magical store.
Seim is also proud that she’s been able to adhere to the vision of her parents, whom she credits for the “profound effect” they’ve had upon her life’s values. Her parents owned and operated The Dragon’s Nest from 1982 until 2006, when Seim purchased the store from them. “My parents strived to keep the focus on nonviolent toys and toys that were non-mass marketed,” Seim explains. Although her store will carry the latest fads, such as silly bands and squishies (along with a limited electronics section), Seim says that she tries to carry toys and merchandise that will light children’s imaginations and ignite their inherent creativity. In essence, she looks for merchandise that will spark a child’s natural “spark.”
Prior to her role as empress over the world of dragons, wizards, and a kingdom of toys, Seim worked for Candlewick Press, a publisher of children’s books based in Somerville. Though she says that she still loves the company and its mission to inspire children to read and become young literary citizens, she yearned for a role that would let her find her own spark. So she came home to Newburyport and found her sparkle in The Dragon’s Nest.
“I am so happy to be back in Newburyport,” Seim tells me. Though she’s lived in other cities and towns, and she understands the youthful desire to “take off” for places afar, Seim says, “I never felt that I wanted to leave Newburyport forever. I always loved coming home to visit, and I loved moving back home.” Home is the South End, where Seim recalls an idyllic childhood. She has fond memories of growing up near the sea wall and playing with a close group of friends from the Brown School, chasing one another through the neighborhood streets.
Her more treasured recollections, however, are of the leisurely drives she took with her father along neighboring Newbury’s country roads and along the refuge road on Plum Island. “We loved seeing the different wildlife and trying to identify the various birds,” Seim recalls.
She is still moved by the beauty that surrounds her. A recent picnic at Maudsley filled Seim with a sense of “mystery, wonder, and awe” for the park’s beautiful and bucolic setting. And she says that she oftentimes thinks to herself, particularly when she is having a quick breakfast or lunch along the city’s boardwalk, “I live in a really pretty place!”—and feels both amazed and blessed to be a thread in Newburyport’s colorful fabric.
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Kathleen Downey is a contributing writer to Newburyport-Today if you are a “Townie” and would like to be interviewed by Kathleen, please let us know!
