York, as well many surrounding towns, are widely recognized as tourist towns, catering primarily to those vacationing at the beach during summer. Many stores are only open during the summer rush, when York’s population jumps from 13,723 to about 52,000 (around June to early September). However, not all stores are catering to non-locals, and York, as well as Kittery, the neighboring town, have many hidden gems run by local artisans and owners committed to sustainability and quality. Hence, here are three of these stores.
The first is Ocean Fire Pottery, owned by Amy Clark and located in York, Maine. Founded in 2009, Ocean Fire Pottery is a pottery shop that focuses on “functional art”; pieces of pottery that are not only useful in everyday life, but bring joy and color into daily routines and simple spaces, such as kitchens and dining rooms. Amy works in a variety of colors, ranging from light blues to deep hues of red, glazing her mugs, bowls, and various pieces of pottery not just with colors, but with scenes. Some of her mugs or bowls are simply blue; others are abstract seascapes or pictures of the sky seeping into the ground. Amy produces long-lasting pieces of pottery that hold up for years with proper care, bringing quality and art into homes across York. All pieces are sculpted, glazed, and fired in Amy’s shop, showing the care she puts into each piece of pottery. Ocean Fire Potter is located at 23 Woodbridge Rd, York, ME 03909.
The second is HS Mercantile. HS Mercantile is a small business in Kittery, Maine, that was formerly in South Berwick. HS Mercantile focuses on handmade goods and slow fashion, carrying an array of clothing items from different sustainable brands, as well as decorative pieces, blankets, jewelry, and more. Many items in HS Mercantile were made in the local area, with a few coming from other parts of the U.S. or India. HS Mercantile is committed to “supporting a culture of handmade goods”, and keeping intact traditions and legacies of sustainability. HS Mercantile is located at 9 Government St, Kittery, ME 03904.
The third, and final, store is Folk. Folk is similar to HS Mercantile, and is also located in Kittery, Maine. However, Folk focuses more on decoration, such as calendars and posters, and office supplies, such as funky staplers and notebooks. Folk is also committed to sustainability and supporting small businesses, using calendars made by local artists and selling a wide variety of items, including hats and books, created by small businesses. They have a limited vintage section as well. Everything at Folk is colorful and enjoyable to look at, use, and decorate with. The selection may not be as large as a chain store, but each piece, like the other two stores, has thought put into it. It’s there because the owners thought it would be perfect there- and would be something that locals would enjoy. Folk is located at 7 Wallingford Square #103, Kittery, ME 03904.
York and Kittery still have much to offer even in the off-season. Without the congestion of tourists, exploring and shopping can be an even more enjoyable experience, and benefit fellow townsfolk. Be sure to consider supporting these three local, small businesses in the future.
