Local Business

Shared retail market coming to downtown Boothbay Harbor

Tue, 04/15/2014 - 5:30pm

After months of speculation about what will happen in the old Village Market space, we have an answer.

And it's an entirely new concept to Boothbay Harbor.

Summer in the harbor isn't always blue skies and sunshine with warm ocean breezes. There are days when it's just not that pleasant.

Maria Boord and Jeff Curtis have come up with what might be a good solution. And a fun one.

Boord, a painter, will occupy part of the space in the heart of Boothbay Harbor with a new gallery.

The other, larger area, is going to be converted into an indoor shopping experience replete with a variety of interesting, beautiful, artsy and antique objects, farmers' market stands, bakery products, soaps and candles, cheeses, confections — well, you name it — literally.

TidePools of Maine will, according to Boord, be a space for vendors to rent an approximately 9 by 9-foot, or 81 square foot space, or booth, to sell their specialties. The spaces will be rented by the week, or longer, allowing for changing a shopping experience.

Boord said she's hoping to attract an interesting mix of artisans, bakers, craftsmen, antique dealers, farmers, and anyone else who produces, or has, something of interest and value to offer to the public.

Curtis and Boord are also hoping for a few artists who would like to set up a working studio in the space as they paint or produce their art. As stated in their temporary brochure, “Picture having a place to paint, talk to customers, and sell your work in the center of town.”

Preliminary plans are to have open stalls or booths, with taped borders on the floor and chalkboard signs, making it easy to change vendors, information and specials.

There will be a “central cashier” to handle sales and tax so vendors may come and go as they please. TidePools will collect a 10 percent commission on all sales, which will cover credit card processing costs.

Do you have cool stuff to sell, but not enough to open a shop? Antiques that are too valuable to sell in a yard sale? Paintings or crafts that you know are worthy of being shown and sold? Or a specialty, say, a certain cookie recipe, that friends and family are always clamoring for?

This may be your opportunity to test your entrepreneurial skills without having to sign a lease or make a long-term commitment.

“The original concept we had, besides creating a fun shopping experience, was to provide a low-cost, low-risk place for creative people to sell their ideas ... a sort of "creativity incubator" that hopefully will allow some to grow into full size spaces of their own,” Curtis said.

The couple plans to open the indoor shopping arena around Memorial Day and remain open through the fall and Christmas. Space rentals will start at $125 per week. For more information, email Boord at tidepoolsofmaine@gmail.com or visit TidePools’ Facebook page.