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Middlebury

Co-op Connection Featured Business–Addison West

With the fast approaching holidays, we’re excited to shine a bright light on Addison West! This shop nestled in the heart of downtown Middlebury offers a skillfully curated lineup of new and vintage items intended to excite and inspire, and they offer a sweet deal for card-carrying Co-op member-owners! Read on to learn more about the inspiration behind this new venture and the folks who bring it to life:

 

What began as a holiday pop-up in the space at 44 Main Street previously occupied by Community Barn Ventures has since evolved into a full-fledged home design, décor, and lifestyle shop featuring an enticing lineup of gifts, furniture, jewelry, lighting, artwork, and other kitchen and home décor. By November of 2022, Community Barn Ventures had relocated to the Old Stone Mill in Frog Hollow, and Monique Bonner seized the opportunity to change course from a decades-long career as a tech marketing executive to fulfill a lifelong dream of running a retail shop. Bonner officially launched Addison West on her 50th birthday, drawing on her previous experience redesigning and renovating countless bathrooms, kitchens, condos, and homes and fulfilling a passion for connecting people with the spaces and things they love. 

Photo by Elisabeth Waller Photography

Bonner particularly enjoys showcasing the work of local makers, artists, and artisans, so you’ll find among her skillfully curated collection many locally-crafted items and artwork. She also has a particular passion for bringing together things both old and new, sharing in an Addison Independent article her love of “mixing new with vintage, things that have history. That’s a huge part of my philosophy on home design and decorating. I also love that buying vintage or antique items and furniture for your home is another way for us to think and act sustainably.” 

Photo by Elisabeth Waller Photography

As for the name Addison West, Bonner shares on her website that, “well, most simply, we live on West Street in Addison County in Vermont. Addison County is a remarkable area. It’s an area grounded in the earth and landscape. It’s surrounded by mountains, full of farms and dairy cows and amazing, resilient, people. And the idea of the West has always seemed to inspire exploration, new places, the undiscovered. So our ethos is all about the grounded, the historical, the foundational, and at the same time inhabiting the magic of what’s new and what’s possible.”

Photo by Elisabeth Waller Photography

The overarching goal for Addison West, according to their website is “to have people feel grounded and great. Great about their spaces. Great about their homes, their lives, and their gifts – both what they give to themselves and what they give to others. We really want to inspire people to embrace the best of what they have, while at the same time encouraging them to try new, to mix things up.” As part of their participation in the Co-op Connection program, they generously offer a 10% discount to Co-op member-owners, so consider this your formal invitation to visit Addison West and explore all that they have to offer! Whether you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift, or simply looking for fresh inspiration for your own home, we think you’ll find what you’re looking for at Addison West!

Photo by Elisabeth Waller Photography

 

 

Featured Co-op Connection Business – Otter Creek Used Books

“The bookstore…had its own special aroma, the incomparable and unforgettable scent of books and dust, paper and ink, type and binding, the dazzling anticipation and excitement of seekers after books.” – Marvin Mondlin & Roy Meador, Book Row.

This is the feeling one has the pleasure of experiencing upon entering Otter Creek Used Books. This special gem, located in Middlebury’s historic Marbleworks, is owned by Barbara Harding and it’s one of the local businesses featured in our Co-op Connection lineup. Harding has owned the store for sixteen years. Twelve of those years were in the current location and four were in the previous location in downtown Middlebury’s now-demolished Lazarus building. Harding never thought she’d own a bookstore, but while taking a walk downtown one day on a break from her work at the Addison County Chamber of Commerce where she worked to promote travel and tourism, she discovered that the used bookstore was for sale. She walked in to inquire about the price and made the decision that very day to become its new owner. Talk about a leap of faith!

Harding says that she’d always loved books, particularly used books, and has fond memories of walking out of libraries and used bookstores with her arms full as a kid. She had a passion for turning this particular bookstore around, as she’d witnessed its decline over the years and knew it had the potential to be something special. And she has most certainly succeeded in giving it new life, not once, but thrice, as the move to the new location nine years ago necessitated another rebirth of sorts, followed in 2020 by a lengthy and unplanned closure due to the pandemic, which required new resolve to bring the bookstore back on track. The lengthy closure provided Harding the opportunity to do some rearranging, expanding some categories, condensing others, and she’s bringing in new inventory daily. Much is the same as it was pre-pandemic, though there have been some minor changes to store hours and procedures. The shop is now open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm and “by chance” on Sundays and Mondays.

 

When asked if she has a favorite book in the store, Harding insists that she couldn’t possibly choose just one. She confesses that when certain coveted titles arrive in the store, she tends to keep them in a small stack near her desk so that she can enjoy their presence for a period of time before eventually deciding that she’s ready to part with them. Long-time customers often ask to see what’s in her pile and she jokes that she’s reluctant to share until she’s truly ready for them to have a new home.

According to Harding, “owning a used bookstore is everything you think it would be. Should be. But it’s so much more. There is the realization that all the books actually belong to you. To you! You can claim each and every book if you want. But, of course, you don’t because how are you going to keep the store going? So, you have to be able to let go. And know that a sold book is going to a good home. To be reread. Or even sit prettily on a bookshelf.”

 Her general preference is for non-fiction and one of her priorities when initially purchasing the store was to have a dedicated Vermont section, which was absent from the store at that time. Visitors to the store will now find a robust selection of Vermont titles from Frost to McKibben and everything in between. 

Be sure to check out the Otter Creek Used Books blog and social media to stay up to speed on pop-up book sales and access Harding’s valuable insights into the treasures housed within the walls of the shop. And, if you’ve never had the pleasure of visiting the shop, do yourself a favor and swing by. There’s no better time than now to rally around this local treasure. Whether you’re already a loyal customer or it’s your very first visit, you’ll find it to be a warm and welcoming space full of all of the magic and mystery that make a used book store so alluring. There’s something there to satisfy every interest, and Barbara will be there behind the counter to greet you with a smile. 

Barbara Harding, owner of Otter Creek Used Books

 

“I feel so lucky,” says Harding. “Lucky to decide to purchase the store and bring new life to it. Lucky to open the door each day, turn on lights, sweep floors, polish windows, dust off books. Decorating windows, tops of bookcases, shuffling shelves around. Selecting background music. Creating an atmosphere of coziness. Somewhat organized. Somewhat not. Cluttered. But hopefully not too much.” 

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Featured Co-op Connection Business – Green Mountain Adventures

Summer in Vermont is a spectacular time to hike, bike, paddle, and swim your way through some of the most scenic vistas New England has to offer. Regardless of your outdoor sport of choice, Middlebury’s Green Mountain Adventures (aka Middlebury Mountaineer) is the perfect place to get outfitted with everything you need to explore the forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes of Vermont and we’re excited to collaborate with them through our Co-op Connection program! Thanks to this partnership, card-carrying Co-op member-owners can enjoy a 10% discount when shopping at Green Mountian Adventures! Read on to learn more about this family-owned local business and its wide variety of offerings for the outdoor enthusiast in all of us!

The History

Co-owners Steve and Marion Atocha first opened Middlebury Mountaineer (d/b/a Green Mountain Adventures) in 1998 on Middlebury’s Mill Street in a spot above the Storm Café. Around five years later, the store moved to a Park Street location formerly occupied by Ben & Jerry’s. After a short stint there, the business inched a little further up Park Street to the storefront next to the Henry Sheldon Museum, and finally, in the Spring of 2017, they found what they’d been looking for all along — a prime location with great visibility in the heart of Middlebury’s Main Street.

The Family

Steve is the co-owner and founder of Green Mountain Adventures. On the store’s webpage, he is described as a father, a fly fishing enthusiast, and a certified American Canoe Association Kayaking Instructor. He spends his free time hiking for out-of-the-way fishing holes or backcountry skiing on the Lincoln Gap. Green Mountain Adventures is co-owned by his wife Marion, who also serves as a clothing buyer for the store. She divides her time between the shop and working full-time as a nurse in Bristol. An avid hiker, swimmer, and Nordic skier, Marion’s real passion is raising her three boys and working on her family farm. In true family business fashion, their boys pitch in as part of the Green Mountain Adventures team. 

Steve and Marion Atocha
Steve Atocha with his sons

 

The Gear

Green Mountain Adventures provides only the best gear and apparel with a commitment to quality merchandise and a high standard for personalized customer service. You’ll find many of your favorite brands including Patagonia, Darn Tough, Prana, Blundstone, Howler Bros., Hydro Flask, Yeti, and more. They also carry a wide range of cross-country skis, boots, poles, wax, and accessories from Fischer, Rossignol, Bjorn Daehlie, Salomon, Rottefella, Craft, and Swix. If you’re not ready to commit to an equipment purchase but want to try out some of the best gear in the industry, check out their summer and winter gear rental and lease options. 

 

Guided Adventures

If you’re looking for a guide for your adventures, Green Mountain Adventures offers professional guide services and equipment rentals for fly fishing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, and backcountry skiing. Whether you’re a beginner interested in learning the basics or a more experienced adventurer looking to hone your skills, Green Mountain Adventures will personalize any full or half-day trip to meet your needs.

Summer Camps

Now in their 24th season, Green Mountain Adventures offers a variety of outdoor adventure day camps uniquely designed to safely lead children and young adults (ages 6-14) into the vast playground of rocks, rivers, and mountains surrounding our Central Vermont community. Participants engage in multi-activity wilderness adventures including canoeing and kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, river tubing, and rock climbing. Each GMA camp provides imaginative and unforgettable journeys in some of the most beautiful backcountry wilderness areas in and around the Green Mountains. Their programs offer a low camper-to-guide ratio to ensure your camper receives individualized attention and support. Guides are hand-picked from the local community based on their extensive wilderness experience and skills, intimate knowledge of the local environment and terrain, and youth service experience (as teachers, coaches, mentors, parents, etc.). In addition to providing outlets for youth to immerse themselves in nature, there is also a strong focus on relationship building. According to Steve, “as an outdoor adventure camp in the local community for over 20 years, we’ve enjoyed the opportunity to witness the personal growth of many returning campers as they develop confidence in themselves and their ability to relate with peers in a group setting. Our programs are very small and inclusive, without much room or opportunity for cliques to form. We encourage a “come as you are” ethic where campers can be fully themselves, without external pressure to act or perform in a certain way.”

 

 

Featured Co-op Connection Business – Green Mountain Adventures

Summer in Vermont is a spectacular time to hike, bike, paddle, and swim your way through some of the most scenic vistas New England has to offer. Regardless of your outdoor sport of choice, Middlebury’s Green Mountain Adventures is the perfect place to get outfitted with everything you need to explore the forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes of Vermont and we’re excited to collaborate with them through our Co-op Connection program! Thanks to this partnership, card-carrying Co-op member-owners can enjoy a 10% discount when shopping at Green Mountian Adventures! Read on to learn more about this family-owned local business and its wide variety of offerings for the outdoor enthusiast in all of us!

The History

Co-owners Steve and Marion Atocha first opened Middlebury Mountaineer (d/b/a Green Mountain Adventures) in 1998 on Middlebury’s Mill Street in a spot above the Storm Café. Around five years later, the store moved to a Park Street location formerly occupied by Ben & Jerry’s. After a short stint there, the business inched a little further up Park Street to the storefront next to the Henry Sheldon Museum, and finally, in the Spring of 2017, they found what they’d been looking for all along — a prime location with great visibility in the heart of Middlebury’s Main Street.

The Family

Steve is the co-owner and founder of Green Mountain Adventures. On the store’s webpage, he is described as a father, a fly fishing enthusiast, and a certified American Canoe Association Kayaking Instructor. He spends his free time hiking for out-of-the-way fishing holes or backcountry skiing on the Lincoln Gap. Green Mountain Adventures is co-owned by his wife Marion, who also serves as a clothing buyer for the store. She divides her time between the shop and working full-time as a nurse in Bristol. An avid hiker, swimmer, and nordic skier, Marion’s real passion is raising her three boys and working on her family farm. In true family business fashion, their boys pitch in as part of the Green Mountain Adventures team. Their son Brewer works in the store as a sales associate after school and on weekends and helps guide their kids’ summer adventure programs. Their son Abel also pitches in as a store sales associate. Lorenzo, their youngest son, helps tune skis in the wax room.

Steve and Marion Atocha
Steve Atocha with his sons

 

The Gear

Green Mountain Adventures provides only the best gear and apparel with a commitment to quality merchandise and a high standard for personalized customer service. You’ll find many of your favorite brands including Patagonia, Darn Tough, Prana, Blundstone, Howler Bros., Hydro Flask, Yeti, and more. They also carry a wide range of cross country skis, boots, poles, wax, and accessories from Fischer, Rossignol, Bjorn Daehlie, Salomon, Rottefella, Craft, and Swix. If you’re not ready to commit to an equipment purchase but want to try out some of the best gear in the industry, check out their summer and winter gear rental and lease options. 

 

Guided Adventures

If you’re looking for a guide for your adventures, Green Mountain Adventures offers professional guide services and equipment rentals for fly fishing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, and backcountry skiing. Whether you’re a beginner interested in learning the basics or a more experienced adventurer looking to hone your skills, Green Mountain Adventures will personalize any full or half-day trip to meet your needs.

Summer Camps

Now in their 24th season, Green Mountain Adventures offers a variety of outdoor adventure day camps uniquely designed to safely lead children and young adults (ages 6-14) into the vast playground of rocks, rivers, and mountains surrounding our Central Vermont community. Participants engage in multi-activity wilderness adventures including canoeing and kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, river tubing, and rock climbing. Each GMA camp provides imaginative and unforgettable journeys in some of the most beautiful backcountry wilderness areas in and around the Green Mountains. Their programs offer a low camper-to-guide ratio to ensure your camper receives individualized attention and support. Guides are hand-picked from the local community based on their extensive wilderness experience and skills, intimate knowledge of the local environment and terrain, and youth service experience (as teachers, coaches, mentors, parents, etc.). In addition to providing outlets for youth to immerse themselves in nature, there is also a strong focus on relationship building. According to Steve, “as an outdoor adventure camp in the local community for over 20 years, we’ve enjoyed the opportunity to witness the personal growth of many returning campers as they develop confidence in themselves and their ability to relate with peers in a group setting. Our programs are very small and inclusive, without much room or opportunity for cliques to form. We encourage a “come as you are” ethic where campers can be fully themselves, without external pressure to act or perform in a certain way.”

 

 

Co-op Connection Featured Business–Addison West

With Mother’s Day and graduation just around the corner, we’re excited to shine a bright light on one of the newest local businesses to join our Co-op Connection lineup — Addison West! This new shop nestled in the heart of downtown Middlebury offers a skillfully curated lineup of new and vintage items intended to excite and inspire, and they offer a sweet deal for card-carrying Co-op member-owners! Read on to learn more about the inspiration behind this new venture and the folks who bring it to life:

 

What began as a holiday pop-up in the space at 44 Main Street previously occupied by Community Barn Ventures has since evolved into a full-fledged home design, decor, and lifestyle shop featuring an enticing lineup of gifts, furniture, jewelry, lighting, artwork, and other kitchen and home decor. By November of 2022, Community Barn Ventures had relocated to the Old Stone Mill in Frog Hollow, and Monique Bonner seized the opportunity to change course from a decades-long career as a tech marketing executive to fulfill a lifelong dream of running a retail shop. Bonner officially launched Addison West on her 50th birthday, drawing on her previous experience redesigning and renovating countless bathrooms, kitchens, condos, and homes and fulfilling a passion for connecting people with the spaces and things they love. 

Photo by Elisabeth Waller Photography

Bonner particularly enjoys showcasing the work of local makers, artists, and artisans, so you’ll find among her skillfully curated collection many locally-crafted items including artwork by Addison County’s own E.J. Bartlett and Christiana Hodges (of Sunrise Orchard’s fame!). She also has a particular passion for bringing together things both old and new, sharing in an Addison Independent article her love of “mixing new with vintage, things that have history. That’s a huge part of my philosophy on home design and decorating. I also love that buying vintage or antique items and furniture for your home is another way for us to think and act sustainably.” 

Photo by Elisabeth Waller Photography

As for the name Addison West, Bonner shares on her website that, “well, most simply, we live on West Street in Addison County in Vermont. Addison County is a remarkable area. It’s an area grounded in the earth and landscape. It’s surrounded by mountains, full of farms and dairy cows and amazing, resilient, people. And the idea of the West has always seemed to inspire exploration, new places, the undiscovered. So our ethos is all about the grounded, the historical, the foundational, and at the same time inhabiting the magic of what’s new and what’s possible.”

Photo by Elisabeth Waller Photography

When you visit the flagship store in the heart of Middlebury’s downtown, you’ll likely meet Head of Operations Bibiana DeSouza Schott. Bibi enjoys engaging with customers to help them find that perfect item, and also leads Addison West’s technical design work. As for Bonner, she finds herself busy these days preparing a second location, which is slated to open later this month in Waitsfield. Her hope for this larger space is to house more furniture and other large-scale items that are difficult to showcase in the 700-square-foot space in Middlebury. The Waitsfield location will also serve as the headquarters for the e-commerce arm of Addison West, which accounts for about 15% of the business, so be sure to visit their website to explore the full range of offerings. And if you’re having trouble deciding which items are right for you and your space, keep in mind that Addison West offers interior decorating services! Their blog offers a wealth of design inspiration, as well!

Bibiana DeSouza Schott and Monique Bonner behind the counter at Addison West. Photo by Elisabeth Waller Photography

The overarching goal for Addison West, according to their website is “to have people feel grounded and great. Great about their spaces. Great about their homes, their lives, and their gifts – both what they give to themselves and what they give to others. We really want to inspire people to embrace the best of what they have, while at the same time encouraging them to try new, to mix things up.” As part of their participation in the Co-op Connection program, they generously offer a 10% discount to Co-op member-owners, so consider this your formal invitation to visit Addison West and explore all that they have to offer! Whether you’re looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, graduation gift, or simply looking for fresh inspiration for your own home, we think you’ll find what you’re looking for at Addison West!

Photo by Elisabeth Waller Photography

 

 

Featured Co-op Connection Business – Green Mountain Adventures

While the pandemic has made it challenging to safely engage in many of our favorite activities, one thing that can’t be taken away is our zest for outdoor adventure. In fact, many say that the ability to get outdoors and enjoy the splendor of Vermont’s natural landscapes is one of the primary reasons they’re getting through this challenging time with sanity intact. Regardless of your outdoor sport of choice, Middlebury’s Green Mountain Adventures is a great place to get outfitted with everything you need to explore the forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes of Vermont and we’re excited that they’re the newest local business to join our Co-op Connection lineup! This means that card-carrying Co-op member-owners can enjoy a 10% discount when shopping at Green Mountian Adventures! Read on to learn more about this family-owned local business and its wide variety of offerings for the outdoor enthusiast in all of us!

 

Co-owners Steve and Marion Atocha first opened Middlebury Mountaineer (d/b/a Green Mountain Adventures) in 1998 on Middlebury’s Mill Street in a spot above the Storm Café. Around five years later, the store moved to a Park Street location formerly occupied by Ben & Jerry’s. After a short stint there, the business inched a little further up Park Street to the storefront next to the Henry Sheldon Museum, and finally, in the Spring of 2017, they found what they’d been looking for, a prime location with great visibility on Middlebury’s Main Street.

Steve is the co-owner and founder of Green Mountain Adventures. On the store’s webpage, he is described as a father, a fly fishing enthusiast, and a certified American Canoe Association Kayaking Instructor. He spends his free time hiking for out of the way fishing holes or backcountry skiing on the Lincoln Gap. Green Mountain Adventures is co-owned by his wife Marion, who also serves as a clothing buyer for the store. She divides her time between the shop and working full-time as a nurse in Bristol. An avid hiker, swimmer, and nordic skier, Marion’s real passion is raising her three boys and working on her family farm. In true family business fashion, their boys pitch in as part of the Green Mountain Adventures team. Their son Brewer works in the store as a sales associate after school and on weekends and helps guide their kids’ summer adventure programs. Their son Abel also pitches in as a store sales associate. Lorenzo, their youngest son, helps tune skis in the wax room.

Steve and Marion Atocha
Steve Atocha with his sons

Green Mountain Adventures provides only the best gear and apparel with a commitment to quality merchandise and a high standard for personalized customer service. You’ll find many of your favorite brands including Patagonia, Darn Tough, Prana, Blundstone, Howler Bros., Hydro Flask, Yeti, and more. They also carry a wide range of cross country skis, boots, poles, wax, and accessories from Fischer, Rossignol, Bjorn Daehlie, Salomon, Rottefella, Craft, and Swix. If you’re not ready to commit to an equipment purchase but want to try out some of the best gear in the industry, check out their summer and winter gear rental and lease options. 

 

If you’re looking for a guide for your adventures, Green Mountain Adventures offers professional guide services and equipment rentals for fly fishing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, and backcountry skiing. Whether you’re a beginner interested in learning the basics or a more experienced adventurer looking to hone your skills, Green Mountain Adventures will personalize any full or half-day trip to meet your needs.

Featured Co-op Connection Business – Green Mountain Adventures

While the pandemic has made it challenging to safely engage in many of our favorite activities, one thing that can’t be taken away is our zest for outdoor adventure. In fact, many say that the ability to get outdoors and enjoy the splendor of Vermont’s natural landscapes is one of the primary reasons they’re getting through this challenging time with sanity intact. Regardless of your outdoor sport of choice, Middlebury’s Green Mountain Adventures is a great place to get outfitted with everything you need to explore the forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes of Vermont and we’re excited that they’re the newest local business to join our Co-op Connection lineup! This means that card-carrying Co-op member-owners can enjoy a 10% discount when shopping at Green Mountian Adventures! Read on to learn more about this family-owned local business and its wide variety of offerings for the outdoor enthusiast in all of us!

 

Co-owners Steve and Marion Atocha first opened Middlebury Mountaineer (d/b/a Green Mountain Adventures) in 1998 on Middlebury’s Mill Street in a spot above the Storm Café. Around five years later, the store moved to a Park Street location formerly occupied by Ben & Jerry’s. After a short stint there, the business inched a little further up Park Street to the storefront next to the Henry Sheldon Museum, and finally, in the Spring of 2017, they found what they’d been looking for, a prime location with great visibility on Middlebury’s Main Street.

Steve is the co-owner and founder of Green Mountain Adventures. On the store’s webpage, he is described as a father, a fly fishing enthusiast, and a certified American Canoe Association Kayaking Instructor. He spends his free time hiking for out of the way fishing holes or backcountry skiing on the Lincoln Gap. Green Mountain Adventures is co-owned by his wife Marion, who also serves as a clothing buyer for the store. She divides her time between the shop and working full-time as a nurse in Bristol. An avid hiker, swimmer, and nordic skier, Marion’s real passion is raising her three boys and working on her family farm. In true family business fashion, their boys pitch in as part of the Green Mountain Adventures team. Their son Brewer works in the store as a sales associate after school and on weekends and helps guide their kids’ summer adventure programs. Their son Abel also pitches in as a store sales associate. Lorenzo, their youngest son, helps tune skis in the wax room.

Steve and Marion Atocha
Steve Atocha with his sons

Green Mountain Adventures provides only the best gear and apparel with a commitment to quality merchandise and a high standard for personalized customer service. You’ll find many of your favorite brands including Patagonia, Darn Tough, Prana, Blundstone, Howler Bros., Hydro Flask, Yeti, and more. They also carry a wide range of cross country skis, boots, poles, wax, and accessories from Fischer, Rossignol, Bjorn Daehlie, Salomon, Rottefella, Craft, and Swix. If you’re not ready to commit to an equipment purchase but want to try out some of the best gear in the industry, check out their summer and winter gear rental and lease options. 

 

If you’re looking for a guide for your adventures, Green Mountain Adventures offers professional guide services and equipment rentals for fly fishing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, and backcountry skiing. Whether you’re a beginner interested in learning the basics or a more experienced adventurer looking to hone your skills, Green Mountain Adventures will personalize any full or half-day trip to meet your needs.

Featured Co-op Connection Business – Otter Creek Used Books

“The bookstore…had its own special aroma, the incomparable and unforgettable scent of books and dust, paper and ink, type and binding, the dazzling anticipation and excitement of seekers after books.” – Marvin Mondlin & Roy Meador, Book Row.

This is the feeling one has the pleasure of experiencing upon entering Otter Creek Used Books. This special gem, located in Middlebury’s historic Marbleworks, is owned by Barbara Harding and it’s one of the newest local businesses featured in our Co-op Connection lineup. Harding has owned the store for thirteen years. Nine of those years were in the current location and four were in the previous location in downtown Middlebury’s now-demolished Lazarus building. Harding never thought she’d own a bookstore, but while taking a walk downtown one day on a break from her work at the Addison County Chamber of Commerce where she worked to promote travel and tourism, she discovered that the used bookstore was for sale. She walked in to inquire about the price and made the decision that very day to become its new owner. Talk about a leap of faith!

Harding says that she’d always loved books, particularly used books, and has fond memories of walking out of libraries and used book stores with her arms full as a kid. She had a passion for turning this particular book store around, as she’d witnessed its decline over the years and knew it had the potential to be something special. And she has most certainly succeeded in giving it new life, not once, but twice, as the move to the new location nine years ago necessitated another rebirth of sorts.  Now, in the wake of a lengthy and unplanned closure due to the pandemic, Harding once again finds herself in a position to bring this unique little bookstore back to life and she’s determined to do so.

Much is the same as it was pre-pandemic, though there have been some minor changes to store hours and procedures. The shop is now open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm and Harding is not currently accepting books for store credit. While she’s working hard to get back on her feet, she’s politely asking those with existing store credit to hold off on cashing it in. The lengthy closure provided Harding the opportunity to do some rearranging, expanding some categories, condensing others, and she’s bringing in new inventory daily. 

When asked if she has a favorite book in the store, Harding insists that she couldn’t possibly choose just one. She confesses that when certain coveted titles arrive in the store, she tends to keep them in a small stack near her desk so that she can enjoy their presence for a period of time before eventually deciding that she’s ready to part with them. Long-time customers often ask to see what’s in her pile and she jokes that she’s reluctant to share until she’s truly ready for them to have a new home.  A recent title in her coveted stack is Vermont Place Names:  Footprints of History. It’s the third time Harding has come across this particular book and she knows where each of the last two copies landed, so she’s hoping to find another really good home for this one. That is…as soon as she’s ready to move it from her pile. Her general preference is for non-fiction and one of her priorities when initially purchasing the store was to have a dedicated Vermont section, which was absent from the store at that time. Visitors to the store will now find a robust selection of Vermont titles from Frost to McKibben and everything in between. 

In a recent blog post, Harding expressed her appreciation for those who have helped her get through this challenging time. “Thank you to all who called, emailed, walked in to check on me, order books as well as gift certificates, asked for a stack of books to be brought outside to venture through. It was encouraging and helped me get through in ways you’ll never know.” 

There no better time than now to rally around this local treasure. Whether you’re already a loyal customer or it’s your very first visit, you’ll find it to be a warm and welcoming space full of all of the magic and mystery that make a used book store so alluring. There’s something there to satisfy every interest, and Barbara will be there behind the counter to greet you with a smile. 

Barbara Harding, owner of Otter Creek Used Books

 

 

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Co-op Connection Businesses Re-open!

Owning a small, independent business in the era of mega-stores and online retail giants is daunting during the best of times. The addition of state-wide closure mandates and stay home, stay safe orders made necessary by the global pandemic presented local small business owners with a new set of challenges they could not possibly have planned for. And yet, despite all of the hurdles, our beloved local businesses have rallied! We’ve marveled at the creative ways that many have adeptly pivoted their business plans to accommodate a rapidly changing set of circumstances. We’ve held our breath hoping that those who were unable to shift to online retail due to the nature of their services would be able to endure lengthy closures. And we’ve been heartened to see the many ways that this community has continued to support their favorite local brick-and-mortar stores, despite the challenges.

Moments like these remind us that this community is truly special and make us want to shout from the rooftops as these resilient local businesses begin to re-open their doors. Of course, the caveat is that they must re-open in a way that continues to prioritize community health and safety, so please remember your masks, stay home if you’re sick, observe all social distancing protocols, and take note of posted procedural changes at each place of business. It will take all of us doing our part to make this re-opening of our community businesses successful. 

The Co-op is proud to partner with 20 other local businesses in town through the Co-op Connection and we’ve been particularly excited to see many of them begin to re-open their doors. There are many who provide close-contact services that will require them to remain closed for a while, but there are still ways to support these folks. We’d love to take a moment to celebrate these 20 businesses that make our downtown such a vibrant place and highlight their current offerings. Please note that these hours and conditions are subject to change. Please call ahead or click each business link below to view their web page for the most up-to-date information. This list was last updated on 6.2.20:

  • County Tire Center – Open! Visit Monday – Friday between 8 and 5 for all of your tire, auto, and hybrid/electric vehicle needs. Rest assured they can assist you in a safe and socially-distant manner — they continue to take all precautions to keep the community and their employees safe. Call ahead to schedule your appointment, then call them when you arrive. Make your payment by phone or through their walk-up window.
  • Danforth Pewter –  Open at their Seymour Street location! Drop by (with your mask) and pick up some gifts for the graduates in your life or treat yourself to something special. They’re open Monday – Saturday 10-5 and Sunday from 11-4. Limit 10 customers at a time to allow for proper social distancing. Drop in and show them your support!
  • Green Peppers Restaurant – Open for curbside pickup until 7 pm daily! Order and payment by phone, schedule your preferred pick-up time, retrieve your order at the scheduled time at their outdoor pick-up station located at the front entrance. From Mark and the rest of the Green Peppers crew: “We thank you all so much for supporting us during this time. You are warming our hearts with your generosity! We will continue to be here to warm your bellies with yummy food!”
  • Honey Holistic Esthetics – Due to the close-contact nature of the services provided at Honey Holistic Esthetics, they must remain closed until further notice. However, if you’d like to show your support for this business, please consider ordering a gift card for yourself or a loved one. 
  • Juice Amour -Their Middlebury location is offering online ordering, orders by phone, curbside pickup, and free daily delivery on orders of $25 or more to Middlebury, Bristol, Vergennes, Lincoln, and Monkton! Order online (choose “shipping” option for delivery) or give them a call at (802) 989-7271. Choose from fresh-pressed organic juices, salads, tacos, meal kits, healthy treats, and more! 
  • Jumelles Wellness Midwifery – Due to the very essential nature of this business, this family-centered practice remains open for telehealth and home visits.  Visit them on the web to schedule a consult for home birth midwifery care, doula services, lactation counseling, and childbirth education.
  • Kiss the Cook – The Middlebury location is open for curbside pickup Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11-2 to help equip all of your newfound pandemic culinary prowess. Call (802) 923-6143 to place an order. Gift cards may be purchased online. 
  • Main Street Stationery – Open for phone orders and curbside pickup to meet your needs. Many of us are now working and schooling from home, so whether it’s homeschooling supplies, home office supplies, or all of the essentials to restock your arts and crafts collections, call (802) 388-6787 to place your order and arrange pickup.
  • Maple Landmark Woodcraft – Their retail showroom is now open Monday – Friday from 8-5 and Saturday from 9-4. Masks are required and they must limit the number of patrons to 4 at a time. Martha Rainville says “We look forward to seeing your smiling (masked) faces soon! If you’d prefer not to come in, we are always happy to ship (order online) or do curbside pick-up!”
  • Middlebury Fitness –  As of June 1st, Middlebury Fitness is open! They have adapted the facility so that it now exceeds the CDC and Vermont Health Dept. safety guidelines. They are eager to welcome back old members and welcome new members as they continue to serve our community as we all navigate these challenging times. You can read more information about their reopening here: http://www.middleburyfitness.com/reopening.html.
  • Middlebury Sweets – Open for online orders, curbside pickup, and limited local delivery! Satisfy your sweet tooth and support this fun local business by ordering online or calling call 802-388-4518 between 10 am – 2 pm.
  • Natural Medicine of Vermont – Due to the essential nature of her work, Dr. Miller-Lane remains open and is scheduling telemedicine appointments until Monday, June 1.  Please call 388-6250 to schedule a telemedicine visit by phone or email karri@naturalmedicineofvermont.com. Dr. Miller-Lane says, “Be well, stay safe and we look forward to supporting you in whatever way we are able.”
  • Otter Creek Used Books – Open! Did you read every book in your house during quarantine? Otter Creek Used books is ready to help you refresh your library! Visit Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm and please observe all posted guidelines for safe browsing.
  •  Otter Creek Yoga – Due to the close-contact nature of the classes provided at Otter Creek Yoga, the studio will remain closed until further notice. However, you may join Joanna Colwell for virtual classes via Zoom on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10:30 am or subscribe to her youtube channel to enjoy a class when the time is right for you. It’s a perfect way to recenter yourself and counter the stress of these unprecedented times. Your support is critical during this lengthy closure, so if you’re enjoying the virtual classes, please consider making a donation or purchasing a gift card via the links on their webpage.
  • Pro Skin Studio – Due to the close-contact nature of the services provided at Pro Skin Studio, they must remain closed until further notice. However, if you’d like to show your support for this business, please consider ordering a gift card for yourself or a loved one.
  • Stone Leaf Teahouse – Open for online orders and local pickup. What better way to de-stress than with a fresh, hot cup of tea? Order online and pick your tea up Monday – Friday from 11 am to 3 pm. They have many new fresh teas from the Spring 2020 harvest for you to try and a fascinating new blog post to read while you enjoy your freshly brewed cup!
  • Shafer’s Market & Deli – Open 7 days a week for curbside pickup or delivery to Weybridge, Cornwall, Middlebury, and East Middlebury. The ice cream window is open, too! Hours are Sunday – Tuesday 7 am – 5 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 7 am – 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 7 am -9 pm. Call 388-6408 to place your order today!
  • Texture Salon – Due to the close-contact nature of the services provided at Texture Salon, they must remain closed until further notice. However, if you’d like to show your support for this business, please consider ordering a gift card for yourself or a loved one.
  • Vermont Sun Fitness Center – Will open at 6:00 am Wednesday, June 3rd!  Hours will be Monday thru Friday 6 am-8 pm, Saturday & Sunday 7:30 am-4 pm. This also includes the pool. They hope to begin a limited class schedule as early as the week of June 8th. They’ve been working hard to ensure their facility exceeds the CDC and Vermont Health Department safety guidelines. Please wear your mask and follow all posted safety procedures. To learn more about their safety protocols, click here.
  • Waterfalls Day Spa – Due to the close-contact nature of the services provided at Waterfalls Day Spa, they must remain closed until further notice. However, if you’d like to show your support for this business, please consider ordering a gift card for yourself or a loved one. 
County Tire Center
Danforth Pewter
Green Peppers Restaurant
Honey Holistic Esthetics
Juice Amour
Jumelles Wellness Midwifery
Kiss the Cook
Main Street Stationery
Maple Landmark Woodcraft
Middlebury Fitness
Middlebury Sweets
Natural Medicine of Vermont
Otter Creek Used Books
Otter Creek Yoga
Pro Skin Studio
Shafer's Market & Deli
Stone Leaf Teahouse
Texture Salon
Vermont Sun Fitness Center
Waterfalls Day Spa
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