5 Minutes On A Park Bench: Meet Rena and Jason Wilhelm of Greenport's The Weathered Barn

GREENPORT, NY — Patch has a new feature, "5 Minute On A Park Bench," that will let us speak with some of the business owners who comprise the heart and soul of our small towns. Here's a chance to get to know, through a series of Q & A questions, the hardworking men and women whose dreams and visions help our communities come alive.

Rena Wilhelm of The Weathered Barn in Greenport spoke with Patch about the journey she's shared with her husband Jason to see their dreams realized.

Q) Tell me about the inspiration for your business.

A) The concept of The Weathered Barn was born in 2008, shortly after I was laid off from a corporate design position. At the time, my husband Jason and I were living in Ossining, NY, within a unique and historic community — the oldest Swedish Methodist Summer Campground in America, which had evolved into a small, year-round residential neighborhood. Among its charming, timeworn buildings was an old auditorium that, while unheated and in need of repair, still held the spirit of gathering. I organized a Holiday Bazaar in that space to bring neighbors together and raise funds for the building's restoration. The event was a success, so much so that it continues to this day. The energy of that first market lit a spark in me. I envisioned a permanent artisan marketplace within that building, and I called it The White Weathered Barn — a name that felt more fitting than “auditorium". Though hosting an ongoing market there wasn’t feasible due to the privacy of the community, the vision stayed with me. Eventually, I opened a storefront and kept the name. The White Weathered Barn became not just a shop but a reflection of creativity and community. We moved our store to Greenport in 2011, and in 2014 we dropped the "white" from our name as we evolved into a darker aesthetic that we still maintain.

Q) Describe your business to me as if we were meeting for the first time.

The Weathered Barn is an ever-evolving little shop filled with artisanal goods and a few of our favorite things. We like to call it a concept store, which is really just a fancy way of saying it’s more about the feeling you get when you walk through the door than anything else. Think cozy, modern rustic vibes that speak to both men and women. A lot of what you’ll find here is made right in-house, like our Home Fragrance and Bath & Body Collections — which might explain why everyone always says it smells so good in here!. We also carry a mix of unique gifts, home goods, some Army Navy bags — a little nod to my childhood — and handmade pieces from five talented artisans we love and support. Lately, I’ve been expanding into my own artwork, too — adding greeting cards, totes, and fun little novelties into the mix. But honestly? This shop is always changing, growing, and becoming something new. Who knows what it’ll look like in five years — and that’s the fun of it.

Q) How does it feel to be able to incorporate your art and vision and work alongside your life partner to see this dream realized?

A) Jason and I have been together for over 25 years, and honestly, most of that time has been spent working side by side. I can’t really imagine doing this with anyone else. We're both creative in different ways, and we’ve figured things out largely through trial and error — there was no manual for this. Over time, we’ve found a rhythm that works for us, and I think a big part of that is because the business is such a true reflection of who we are. The shop feels incredibly personal. It’s more than a store — it feels like an extension of our home. People often comment on that when they walk in, and I think that comfort and authenticity are what keep them coming back.

Q) What are some of the challenges that exist as a small business on the North Fork, or anywhere?

A) Of course, there are challenges. Seasonality is a big one on the North Fork, and like many small businesses, we also face the reality of competing with giants like Amazon. That’s kind of a double whammy. But we’ve learned not to compete in the same way. What we offer is something Amazon can’t — a personal, hands-on experience, and a collection of goods that are handmade, thoughtfully curated, and often one-of-a-kind.

Q) What have been some of the most wonderful, pivotal moments that showed you that there wasn't anything else in the world that you'd rather be doing?

A) The evolution of the shop is part necessity and part creative impulse. If we’re feeling a little bored or inspired by something new, we lean into it — and that keeps things feeling fresh for both us and our customers. It’s always changing, just like we are.

Q) Why did you decide in your heart that you wanted to dedicate so much of your life to seeing the skate park reborn?

A) My work with the Greenport Skate Park came from a broken heart. It all started when I saw a young boy's plea to the village to fix the park after it had been vandalized with graffiti. Something about his plea really struck me — it was so genuine, full of hope, but also sad. That moment lit a fire in me. As someone who both lives and runs a business in Greenport, I’ve seen the divide between the tourist community and the people who live here year-round. I feel incredibly lucky to have a shop in such a beautiful place, but just as much — if not more — of my heart is with the locals, especially the kids who grow up here and often feel overlooked. There really aren’t many places for young people to go or things for them to do, especially in the off-season. As a Gen Xer, I grew up outside — riding bikes, climbing trees, playing with friends — and I truly believe being outdoors and having unstructured social time is essential for a child’s development. The skate park is the perfect space for that. Whether you skate or not, it’s a place where kids can just be kids, spend time with their peers, and feel like they belong. And that matters.

Q) Tell me about the joy of community collaboration; for example, the Dog Dock Diving event you worked on with Kim Loper and Sarah Phillips. How does it feel as. business owners, and women, to take the reins to help shepherd the village forward, together?

A) I’m always up for a good collaboration — and honestly, a lot of the best things in my life have come about in these really serendipitous ways. Working alongside Kim Loper and Sarah Phillips for this year’s 9th Annual North Fork Dog Dock Diving Weekend was one of those kismet moments. It just clicked. I also felt proud to stand alongside them as fellow leading ladies of Greenport’s business community. We each brought different strengths to the table, we stayed in our lanes, and the result was this seamless, collaborative energy that made the whole event such a joy to be part of. Next year will be the 10th anniversary, and it's shaping up to be extra special. Not only has Dock Dogs designated it a Wild Card Event — which means the dogs can earn double points — but we’re also planning to fold in even more of the local community. This year’s focus was on fundraising for both the Greenport Skate Park and the Greenport Fire Department, and I’m happy to say we exceeded our goals in both areas. But beyond that, what really stood out was the move to the Greenport Polo Grounds. It gave the event a much more family-friendly feel. With the skate park, the mini railroad, and the fire department’s annual carnival all in that space, it just feels like a place where families gather, where neighbors reconnect. And that’s the heart of the community.

Q) Did you always want to own a business? If you could look back at your younger self, what advice would you give?

A) I don’t think I really knew what I wanted when I was younger. I was always artistic and creative, but I didn’t have a clear vision of a career path. Ironically though, I do remember being about 19, visiting Sag Harbor and falling in love with this beautiful little gift shop. I sat on the beach with my mom and said, “Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a store like that one day?” I didn’t realize it at the time, but that small moment planted a seed. After college, I found myself bouncing between jobs, always with this quiet yearning for something more fulfilling. Eventually, I decided to go back to school for interior design at the New York School of Interior Design, and that’s really where I found my footing. I’ve always been both right- and left-brained — very creative, but also analytical. Interior design, especially the mechanical drafting and spatial planning side of it, hit that sweet spot for me. It gave me a structure to channel my creativity in a way that made sense. I worked in that industry for about 15 years, and somewhere along the way, life brought me full circle — back to that small dream I had on the beach decades ago. Looking back, the advice I’d give my younger self is this: "Follow what lights you up, even if you don’t know exactly where it’s going to lead. The path will carve itself out along the way."

Q) What advice would you give to other new business owners, just starting out, who may feel daunted?

A) First and foremost — do something you love. That’s really important, because there’s going to be a lot of trial and error along the way, and passion is what keeps you going when things get tough. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is about overhead costs. It’s easy to think, “Okay, rent is X amount, I can handle that,” but there are so many additional expenses that come with running a business —many of which you might not even think about until you're in it. It adds up fast. So before taking on a retail space, really take the time to understand all the financial nuances — utilities, insurance, inventory costs, marketing, equipment — the whole picture. Jason and I have always believed in offering products that feel special, but still accessible. We’d rather sell 20 items to 20 people than just one to one. Our goal has always been to create a space that feels inviting and offer goods that people value, but also feel good about buying. When the atmosphere is warm and the price point makes sense, people want to come back — and that’s how you build a community around your business and why I feel we have been successful.

Q) Why is Greenport the perfect place for you to see your dreams unfold?

A) Our business actually started in a location we could afford — but affordability doesn’t mean much without foot traffic. You need people coming through the door. We had family ties to Greenport and decided to take a leap, moving both our life and our business to this very special little village that was already full of energy and character. We arrived in the summer of 2011, and while the town was definitely bustling, that first winter was a wake-up call. Many businesses shut down or drastically reduce their hours during the off-season, and things like staffing can be a real challenge here. But since we make a lot of our products in-house, we’re at the shop, anyway — so it just made sense to keep our doors open. That model doesn’t work for everyone, but it works for us. The key is figuring out what does work for your specific business and being flexible enough to grow with the community. Now, as we enter our 15th year, we’re still learning all the time — but we’ve been incredibly lucky in building a loyal customer base that continues to support us through every season. Greenport has become the place where our dreams not only took root — but continue to evolve.

Q) What would you say to your customers, old and new?

A) That's very simple: We appreciate you!

Q) What remains the most rewarding part of this journey?

A) Easily, it's getting to do what I love, every day, alongside my best friend, and doing it all within such an exquisite landscape. That combination of creative freedom, partnership, and the beauty that surrounds us, it’s pretty special. Life is good, and I try not to take that for granted.'

Q) Finally, what is the best piece of business advice anyone ever gave you?

A) This might sound a little strange, but I don’t think I’ve ever actually asked for or been given traditional business advice. My journey has been shaped more by experience, and a fair amount of fate. Every phase of my life has taught me something that somehow prepared me for the next, even if I didn’t realize it at the time. Honestly, I wing it more often than I probably should. I try to plan things out, but most of the time, I just jump in with both feet and trust that it will work out. I also believe strongly in the power of positive manifestation. That mindset — staying open, trusting the process, and believing in the outcome — has guided me more than any single piece of advice ever could.