Newburyport native Peter Mack is expanding Olde Newbury Antiques on Pleasant Street after fall sales were encouraging.
Mack is a 1994 graduate of Newburyport High School. After serving in the Marines and working in several businesses, including landscaping, he opened an antiques shop in Ipswich about five years ago.
“I couldn’t afford Newburyport at the time,” said Mack. “But the climate in Ipswich wasn’t good, and since I am from the city, I kept looking here.”
He opened the 10 Pleasant St. store in September, in a venue once occupied by Eclectics.
The store next to him, Pandora’s Box, became vacant in early November, and he made arrangements to merge spaces. Now he is revamping the other side of his space, where Pandora’s Box once operated.
Mack, who sells everything from $15 collectibles to $25,000 furniture pieces, said he was happy with his move here.
The store will double in size, and there is storage room downstairs for inventory.
Mack does much of the buying himself, and describes himself as a busy fellow as he buys inventory and expands.
“The rent is a lot more,” he said, “but I like the location and the community. It’s get big or go home, and I decided to expand.”
Meanwhile, the windows of the highly visible storefront that held Orange Leaf Yogurt until last fall are papered over and the space still empty.
At least one local restaurateur walked through the space, but no deal transpired, one municipal source said. Another restaurant could soon move into the site, a commercial broker has reported.
Austin Spinelli, a commercial real estate broker, said the space will be leased by a food business that offers sit-down and takeout choices. No other details were available.
In a development outside the downtown business area, a structure designed for use by small businesses is nearing completion. The eight-unit industrial condominium project is at 23 Hale St.
Developer is Craig Pessina, who heads Chart House Development.
“There is not a lot of inventory like this,” said Spinelli, “so there should be good demand.”
Resource :http://www.salemnews.com/news/business/newburyport-spaces-being-filled-with-antiques-food-businesses/article_0a1792e0-86a6-55d2-a298-bbf64f05d383.html
