The Store In Newport That's Doing Things Differently, Even Hosting A Beach Clean Up
My friends irl — and some of my online ones — know that before launching this site, I spent the previous 18 or so years working as a retail manager.
Sharing that because I still prefer in person shopping to online.
Don’t want to date myself here, but there is something to be said for being able to see and touch merchandise before buying.
How many times have you ordered something, especially clothing or shoes, and it arrives looking not at all like it did on your phone or laptop screen?
And we saw so much over the last year, year and a half, about why shopping local matters.
Not to get all preach-y, but was just applauding the hubs for buying a pair of sandals at a shoe store that’s been in biz in Rhode Island for 72 years. (Let’s keep them around for another 72, amirite?)
Anywho, I popped over to another fantastic brick and mortar recently, this time at The Brick Market Place in Newport, and just adore everything about it.
Ohanga Newport is your one stop for handmade in Rhode Island and sustainable home goods (I bought the prettiest hand painted mug and cup from Pastels and Parcels), jewelry, gifts, and art work.
They also have an art magazine called Etch and have been known to host LIVE music outside their door on occasion.
They are even organizing a beach clean-up in Misquamicut on June 19th.
In other words, they came to play!
Or they’re not playing…it works both ways.
This is not your run-of-the-mill storefront and rest assured that all the items they carry are tippity top quality and come to them by way of some of the most highly regarded local artisans and makers.
It’s like shopping at a really great gift shop at an amazing museum, only a lot better and without the ‘tude. (Is it me or do most of the people who staff those shops look annoyed or inconvenienced when it’s time to answer a question or ring out a sale?)
Yes, you can find stuff for everyone in your life — Father’s Day is coming up after all.
They even have non-perishable food from marvelous companies such The Yucky Rivah Bee Fahm (Honey) in South Kingstown and Granny Squibb’s (Iced Tea) in PVD.
Ohanga Newport is located at 225 Goddard Row in Newport.
As always, if you wind up there in the not too distant future, please let them know you heard about them here via Patty J and PattyJ.com.