New businesses popping up along Broadway in Mystic
Mystic — Business along Broadway Avenue is starting to pick up with the opening just a few weeks apart of a side-by-side gift shop and antiques store.
The debut last month of B. Carver's Home & Gifts along with the anticipated opening next month of Red Head Heron Antiques and Non, both at 31 Broadway Ave., comes not long after the arrival of two other long-anticipated businesses: M/Bar wine bar across the street in the old Frank's Auto gas station and Mystic Depot Roasters at the old train station down the street.
"It's a buzz in and buzz out kind of thing," said Bethany Perkins, owner of the new gift shop where a seamstress previously had been in business. "The locals needed something like that."
It's simply easier to drive around on this side of town, Perkins said, especially in the summer. She and Diane Herron, owner of the antiques shop, say they believe this may be the new hot area in Mystic as locals seek to avoid the congestion that sometimes occurs downtown on East and West Main streets, where parking is at a premium.
Judi Caracausa, owner of Market Realty who arranged the rentals for the New York-based 29-31 LLC, said she believes retail can do very well on this side of Mystic, where rents are cheaper than in downtown.
"There's only so much downtown," Caracausa said. "Things are spreading off Main Street to the side streets."
Caracausa said the planned resurrection of the Central Hall Block in downtown may satisfy some of the new demand for retail space in the area, but she believes the Broadway area will be attractive to locals and tourists alike if its transformation continues.
"If you have something people want to buy, they'll crawl out of a rock to get it," she said.
New store owners Herron and Perkins certainly hope she is right.
Perkins, a longtime Mystic resident, said her gift shop has been quickly embraced by locals for its coziness and selection. The shop includes quirky cards, vintage candles, English linen tea towels, hand creams and stationery as well as gift wrapping.
The shop is closed Mondays, but open 10-5 on other days of the week. After Thanksgiving, hours will be extended to 6 p.m. and she will be open seven days a week.
"I wanted to offer just different, unique, old fashioned customer service," Perkins said. "So far, it's been very positive."
Herron, currently residing in North Kingstown, R.I., but planning a move to this area, said she has been collecting antiques all her life but only now, after a four-decade career mostly in the pharmaceutical industry, has decided to open up a shop.
"I'm going to slowly empty out my basement and attic," she joked. "I want it to be friendly and fun."
Her first antiquing experience was at age 8 when she had only a quarter to spend. An auctioneer took mercy on her as she was being continually outbid, and finally let her have a china doll tea set for her 25 cents.
"Ever since then, I wanted to collect antiques," she said.
Herron said she likes to live with her finds for a while before parting with them. It's an advantage, she said, since that allows her to contemplate and try out a wide variety of uses for her objects.
Furniture, quilts, linens, needlepoint and even estate jewelry will be among her antique offerings. She will even mix in a few newer pieces that she believes pair well with certain antiques, hence the "Non" in her shop's name.
Herron hopes to open the shop the day after Thanksgiving, if not before.
Red Head Heron Antiques and Non
Diane Herron, owner
Phone: 401-533-1885
Email: redheadheron@gmail.com
B. Carver's Home & Gifts
Bethany Perkins, owner
Phone: 860-415-8127
Email: beavershome@gmail.com
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