St. Johnsbury Shopping
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Scottie Raymond, Owner |
Shoppers can get great savings at participating merchants throughout St. Johnsbury’s downtown, just by showing the Smart Shopper Card when they make a purchase. The Smart Shopper Card is a program developed by St. Johnsbury Works, the downtown organization, to encourage the community to shop locally in downtown St. Johnsbury.
The Smart Shopper Card looks like a credit card and can purchased for $10 at some of the participating stores -- Uniquity, Boxcar & Caboose, Paddy Cakes, Frogs & Lily Pads, Aqua Realm, and Kingdom Outdoors. Other businesses participating in the program include Mayo’s Furniture, Mill River Furniture, and All About Flowers.
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| Jane Rowe (l.) purchasing Smart Shopper Card from Uniquity's Libby Welch |
According to Linda Fogg, Director of St. Johnsbury Works, the discount program is based on a similar program in Boulder, Colorado. “I learned about it at a seminar,” Linda says, “and I thought it could work in St. Johnsbury, too.” Linda is very pleased with the response from the local merchants so far, and looks forward to expanding the program to include more downtown businesses over time.
“At a time when the economy is tight for everyone,” says Linda, “We hope the Smart Shopper Card will help folks stretch their budgets a little further.”
For more information about the card contact Linda Fogg at 748-7121 or visit the Smart Shopper page.
Happy Birthday St. J. Co-op!
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| (l to r) General Manager Michel Lurie, Education & Outreach Director Melissa Bridges, Board President Carol A |
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The Co-op’s goals are the same today as they were at the start: to provide healthy, affordable, local food where everyone can shop. “We are a full-service grocery store,” says Bridges, “With fresh produce and dairy items, frozen foods, bulk foods, meats, chicken and fish, general grocery items, cleaning supplies, wine and beer, vitamins and supplements. What’s on our shelves is what our customers want, from everyday items to specialty foods.”
With the increased interest in food issues and the environmental impact of transporting food, the Co-op serves a very important purpose for many people in the area. “Michael’s Pollan’s writings have alerted people to the need for organic and locally-produced food,” says Adams. “When you buy chicken or strawberries in the Co-op, we let you know what farm they came from, and usually, those farms are very nearby.”
The Co-op board is pleased to report that the store is doing well. “We’re doing 20 times more business than we did just five years ago,” says Bridges. “But we’re really looking forward to the future of the Co-op. We are trying to keep prices affordable, which is hard these days. Becoming a member, and especially a working member, is a great way to lower the cost of your food and still be able to eat the high quality products available here.”
The couple did their research and decided to move to St. Johnsbury, a once fading rail town near the New Hampshire border that is now enjoying a renaissance.
This week the Milligans opened their new home accessories shop on Railroad Avenue called Something Special, filled with a mix of Angel's creations and those from other local artisans.
The opening lured Gov. Jim Douglas on Tuesday, part of a 90-minute tour of new businesses in town that has downtown leaders beaming. St. Johnsbury is now at nearly 100 percent retail occupancy for the first time in 20 years.
"We have a nice package of amenities that attracts people," said Linda Fogg, director of St. Johnsbury Works!, a downtown advocacy group. Fogg reminds a visitor about other selling points, which include historic architecture of the uptown section, nearby St. Johnsbury Academy, and Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium.
Still, the suddenly thriving downtown is something no one is quite sure how to explain, given the current economy and ongoing competition from nearby New Hampshire which has no sales tax.
In the 1990s, Littleton, N.H. lured big-box retailers including Wal-Mart from St. Johnsbury following local opposition here. In 2004, a devastating fire destroyed a large commercial block.
But times change.
"We don't compete. We complement," Fogg said of her new mix of retailers, cafes and bakeries, and service-related businesses in her community. "If you want something unique, we now have it here."
Around the corner, the St. Johnsbury Food Co-op reported its strongest sales month in history. "Our business has been growing steadily for the last couple of years," said co-op employee Melissa Bridges.
"I think with the high price of gas people don't want to travel as far," said Douglas after a visit to the new Heart Space Yoga Studio. "They welcome the chance to support friends and neighbors, in their own community. Buy local."
What’s New on Eastern Avenue?
Retail streets change all the time. St. Johnsbury’s own Eastern Avenue houses a wide variety of stores and businesses, from brokerage firms CitiFinancial and A.G. Edwards at the top of the hill, to clothing shops Elizabeth’s Large Size Fashions and Sunshine Boutique down at the bottom of the slope. And in between, there are lots of new things happening – businesses changing hands, new shops and services, stores moving. Let’s take a little stroll up Eastern Avenue…
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| "Wesley" and Susannah |
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| Carolyn Cross |
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| Suzanne Geoffroy |
Jaboh Too, another beauty salon a few doors away, has a
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| Beverly Hood |
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| Bringing spring at All About Flowers |
All this activity, and we've just walked up ONE side of the street (right-hand side, as you're walking uphill)! Go ahead and stroll up or down Eastern Avenue and discover for yourself what's new there!
Retail Renaissance on Railroad Street
in St. Johnsbury
A retail renaissance has taken place on Railroad Street in St. Johnsbury! The street has become home to a wide assortment of specialty shops, ranging from gifts to food to pets to clothing, and just about everything in between. The year 2007 saw no less than seven new specialty shops open on Railroad Street. Each store is owned and operated by experienced professionals who bring their enthusiasm for their business to their customers, and make shopping Railroad Street an enjoyable experience, especially during the peak holiday season.
The newest shop on the street is the Downtown Market & Creamery, owned by Dennis and Ro Myrick. The store combines an old-fashioned ice cream soda fountain with a greengrocer concept. Manager Josh Farrington says, “We opened Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 23 this year), and by the next day, the crowds somehow knew the soda fountain was open for business.” They are among the first shops anywhere to scoop Vermont Milk Company ice cream, and they plan to bring in more and more Vermont-made food products as they continue to develop the store.
Another brand-new shop is AquaRealm, a full-line pet store owned and operated by D.J. and Melissa Nelson. D.J.’s specialty is in aquatics (fish) and reptiles, but he also has a love of birds, small animals, dogs, and cats. D.J. has been in the pet business for over 12 years and he encourages people to come in to look around. The huge spider in the back room is worth a visit alone – but don’t worry, it’s in a cage! In 2008, D.J. plans to run seminars on pet-keeping to help pet owners learn more about taking care of their exotic or more usual pets.
At the other end of Railroad Street is The Village Baker, which opened September 14, 2007. David and Karen O’Donnell-Leach, the owners, bake European-style artisan breads and pastries and offer espresso drinks. They have a take-out lunch special that changes every day, as well as savory dinner tarts that are perfect to bring home for a fast and delicious family meal. The Village Baker is open early for folks on their way to work to grab a coffee and croissant, but that means David is there even earlier, baking the breads that will be sold that day!
Emily Scott and Erin Papin opened Dylan’s Café on Railroad Street June 1, 2007 as a breakfast and lunch restaurant that serves, as they describe it, “creative, innovative food.” Both owners are seasoned food professionals, and they use local ingredients in their menus as much as possible, even in the winter. Dylan’s has already developed a loyal breakfast and lunchtime following.
Just next door to Dylan’s is the Rose Knitting Parlor, opened May 5, 2007 by owners Ro and Dennis Myrick. Ro is the knitting expert who has filled the comfortable shop with beautiful wools and all the accessories needed for knitters and crocheters to create beautiful things. Ro’s specialty is knitting design and custom instruction, and she holds “knit night” and “knit afternoon” each week for people to bring in their projects, sit, chat, and work together. Ro says “There’s a camaraderie to knitting that makes it really enjoyable when people come together – skill level doesn’t matter.” The shop carries yarns that are produced or dyed in the local area – North Danville, Waterford, and Barton.
Scottie Raymond and Lewis Apgar of Kingdom Outdoors opened their outdoor specialty retail store May 1, 2007. They sell everything the outdoor enthusiast needs for a variety of sports: camping, backpacking, rock climbing, paddling, skiing, snowboarding, and skateboarding, as well as clothing for yoga and other indoor sports. According to Scottie, “Kingdom Outdoors has gear for sports that other sporting goods stores in the area don’t carry. We are a great complement to other sporting shops and we have a large inventory in our top-selling categories.” Scottie has become very active in the local St. J recreational scene, working with the town to develop a skate park in the lot behind his store. He looks forward to the skate park opening in 2008. His enthusiasm for St. J is infectious – he says, “We’re going to have a lot of fun here. I see great changes for St. Johnsbury in the next 10 years or so!
The oldest “new” shop on Railroad Street has actually been around since 1995. Wool Away!, a yarn shop owned and operated by Miriam Briggs, moved into new quarters in its own space in the back of Uniquity in February, 2007. Wool Away! carries a full line of wools and supplies for knitters, as well as items other crafters need, such as fleece for felters. Miriam holds knitting classes and workshops, and loves to create unique knitting designs. Her designs have been published in two books on knitting, and she is looking forward to being published again in 2008. Miriam says, “My mission is to entice the non-knitter, excite the knitter, and educate anybody who’s interested about fiber.”
One thing all of these new retailers have in common is how excited they are to be in business here in St. Johnsbury. Each one talks about how well the local community has received and supported their business. Along with other established Railroad Street specialty stores such as Allen’s Kitchen & Bath, Anthony’s Diner, Boxcar & Caboose, Caplan’s, Elizabeth’s Large Size Fashions, Frogs and Lily Pads, Moose River Lake & Lodge, Natural Provisions, NEK Artisans Guild, Paddy Cakes and Candy, Podo Shoes, Porter and Craige, R & J Meat Market, and Uniquity, these new shops have helped turn Railroad Street into a specialty shopping experience for visitors and locals alike to enjoy in the holiday season and throughout the year.
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If you are looking for a unique gift, the latest best selling novel, or even a steak for tonight's dinner, you can find what you need in the shops of downtown St. Johnsbury. From antiques to automotive supplies, from hardware to hand-dyed yarn, it's all in St. Johnsbury. Come discover the fun of shopping in historic buildings on St. Johnsbury's tree-lined streets.
Shopping Directory
R&J's Full Service Meat Market
462 Railroad St.
St. Johnsbury VT 05819
802 748 4253
Specializing in homemade sausages and a full line of Boar's Head brand cold cuts
Artistic Gardens
Memorial Drive
St. Johnsbury VT 05819
748 5636
artisticgardens.com
Gauthier's Pharmacy
415 Railroad Street
St. Johnsbury VT 05819
802-748-3122
Kingdom Outdoors
452 Railroad Street
St. Johnsbury VT 05819
802-748-3433
kingdomoutdoors.com
Mayo's Furniture & Floor Covering
802 Railroad Street
St. Johnsbury VT 05819
802-748-8725
Natural Provisions
537 Railroad Street
St. Johnsbury VT 05819
802-748-3587
www.naturalprovisionsvt.com
Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild & Gallery
430 Railroad Street
St. Johnsbury VT 05819
802-748-0158
nekartisansguild.com
Paddy Cakes & Candy
438 Railroad Street
St. Johnsbury VT 05819
802-748-1777
St. J. Food Co-op
490 Portland St.
St. Johnsbury VT 05819
802 748 9498
stjfoodcoop.com
Uniquity
443 Railroad Street
St. Johnsbury VT 05819
802-748-1912