Is Main Street in Georgetown looking … a little different? True, it recently welcomed five new businesses. But that’s not the only thing. It’s bubbling with positivity thanks to local entrepreneurs who are passionate about revitalizing Georgetown.
The Shops at Auburn Landing
The unicorn might be missing from the front of the building at 28 Main Street, but not the magic. The newest adventure to grace this space is the Shops at Auburn Landing, a collaborative spot for retail and custom design. It’s actually three separate businesses: Lily Astraea, The Shop Vintage, and FIVE AND NINE DESIGNS.
The three businesses blend perfectly in the space. On one side, Laura Verses of FIVE AND NINE DESIGNS brings two and a half decades of experience to Georgetown, offering fine jewelry she describes as “wearable luxury.” As you peruse the collection in the shop, consider that one of Verses’s specialties is redesigning jewelry for clients who have a unique piece they’d like to liberate from the dresser drawer and let dazzle.
In the center of the store, showcasing the collective expertise of stylists Jacqui Coleman, Sinead Grimalt, and Sarah McLane, is The Shop Vintage. When the pandemic temporarily halted their careers as stylists and set designers, the trio began hosting pop-ups celebrating handpicked vintage finds. Together, their mission is “to salvage every piece of lace, leather, and linen from the landfill.”
Lily Astraea founder Stephany Sanderson was heading down another retail road when she kept getting requests for floral designs, a task she didn’t initially consider a gift. “It’s just instinctual to me,” she says.Now, Sanderson provides floral designs for small events and venues, specializing in dried flower arrangements. Local and seasonal gifts have a “Stephany” touch. Additionally, there are cheerful to-go bouquets in a bucket next to the cash register.
Although separate paths led the Shops at Auburn Landing ladies to Georgetown, you can feel the joy, friendship and support.
“We’re all putting in 100%. We’re such a good support system for each other,” Sanderson explains.
Kermit’s Bake Shop
Further down the road is Kermit’s Bake Shop. On an unseasonably warm day, Kermit Perlmutter, clad in a black Bad Brains T-shirt and newsboy cap, rolls out dough. After apprenticing to a pastry chef at age sixteen and fine-tuning his technical skills in the Bay Area, Perlmutter felt the pull back to the East Coast to be closer to family.
“I was looking for a small space, which isn’t easy to find,” he explains. The shop is cozy, Kermit’s Bake Shop is a one-man show. The layout is simple but exudes warmth: from the light coming in the front window to the golden butcher block to the delicate, buttery flakes of the morning buns. Fans of Kermit’s Bake Shop scoop up his sourdough bread, laminated pastries and desserts.
“I’ve got some pretty regular regulars,” Perlmutter laughs.
Georgetown Owl Market and Saloon
Keep strolling until you reach the Georgetown Owl Market and Saloon, serving creative comfort food and caffeine. Inside, it’s elegant but cozy, with forest green walls reminiscent of the Redding’s woods. The paint color, owner Kate Perry explains, is called Rosemary Sprig.
Perry and business partner Gerry Valenti were drawn to the space as a perfect spot to offer a market on one side and a restaurant on the other. The market provides breakfast and lunch sandwiches, sushi, gourmet goodies, and a coffee bar from local roasters Quartertone Coffee, in a sun-drenched seating area. On the dining side, Perry and Valenti have established a menu with trademark dishes like the Wild Boar Sloppy Joe and Beef Cheek Braisé but look forward to shuffling things up. Visitors to the Georgetown Owl should sidle up to the bar for a Basil Martini, or a Red Bandana for “No-Alcohol Vibes.”
“We’re excited to be in Georgetown,” Perry says. “We love it down here. People are doing amazing things down here, and we want to add to it!”
STEMS + CO and Wild Blueberry
Finally, there’s the newest kid on the block. STEMS + CO is a floral design studio specializing in arrangements for weddings, corporate events, and gatherings. Owner Lauryn Soden describes her style as “whimsical, organic, a little laid-back.” She also makes her own hand-poured soy candles, available in the shop, as well as home and lifestyle products. Sharing the space, Wild Blueberry is a “pre-loved” children’s boutique. After collecting cool pieces for her own children, owner Ambar Zaatar saw an opportunity to offer a curated selection of eco-friendly and upcycled clothing and toys.
“There’s a huge generational and mental shift in the way we shop,” Zaatar muses. “People are way more conscious about where things
come from.”
Georgetown is definitely thriving!•
