Info box:

Katahdin Kids is at 628 Route 1 in Scarborough

883-1511

Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

www.katahdinkids.com

Julie Onorato is very good at multitasking.

The soft spoken mother of four boys ranging from ages 4 to 11 just opened her own business. This fall, Onorato decided to take a risk and start Katahdin Toys on Route 1 in Dunstan Corner, an idea she’d been perfecting for 12 years.

“I’ve always wanted to do this,” said Onorato, while waiting on her customers, answering the phone, mediating small squabbles between the boys and helping out with a few homework questions. One of the perks to running your own store, said Onorato, is the flexibility. Living and working in Scarborough allows her to watch her sons after school in the store until her husband, Bill, arrives to collect them at around 4:30.

“It’s nice to have your own business because you can make it your own style,” said Onorato. In the past, Onorato hired staff for caterers and then stayed at home with her children, all the while brainstorming and modifying her ideas for the store she dreamed of opening.

At first, said Onorato, while looking for quality outdoor wear for her active family, she thought she’d sell children’s clothing. While there are some clothes for kids in the store, her focus shifted to mostly educational toys.

Having four kids is one good way to know how to stock a toy store, said Onorato, but as customers ask her for different items she’s constantly ordering and adding to the toys on the shelves. After about two and half months, said Onorato, she’s still perfecting the merchandise.

“In a toy store you really have to have a huge selection,” she added.

Onorato moved to Scarborough three years ago from Massachusetts, though Maine was not unfamiliar. With a dad who grew up in Westbrook, said Onorato, she visited Maine in the summers where she spent much of her time outdoors.

Though the store itself changed over years of planning, the name Katahdin Kids has stayed the same. Partly inspired by hiking trips, the name fits with the local feel she hopes to bring to the store. While Onorato has a few things made in Maine, she plans to one day expand her selection of locally made toys and clothes.

“I want to keep everything from being transported to the mall,” said Onorato.

Also, added Onorato, she hopes the name of the highest mountain in Maine adds a sense of wonder and adventure to the store.

“It represent a type of adventure,” she said. “It reminds me of reaching your highest potential.”

Onorato is familiar with taking risks and pushing herself to reach her own highest potential. Opening the store she’s always dreamed, said Onorato, was often a little scary – especially on slow days.

Despite some fear, Onorato feels that the store will be a success.

“I feel like it’s going really well,” said Onorato. “It’s been a big change after staying home.”

Without the help of her husband, said Onorato, none of it would be possible. Bill Onorato, who works at Norway Savings in Scarborough, handles the money and bookkeeping side of the business, said Onorato. The invaluable thing though, said Onorato, is his support.

“I couldn’t do it without him,” she said.

Her husband, though, downplays his involvement crediting his wife with the majority of the work.

“Jill really does it all,” said Onorato. “I just hang back and support her in what she does.”

What really impresses him, he added, is his wife’s ability to stay on top of both a new business and their kids.

“She is really good at the balancing act,” said Onorato.

Jill Onorato, right, watches her four sons while running her new business Katahdin Kids. From left are, William Onorato, Lucas Onorato, Nico Onorato and Ben Onorato.