After reporting on the opening of the Union in West Cornwall, I attended the opening of its next door neighbor, The Local: A Cornwall Collective Market last Saturday, December 5. There to greet me was Emilie Pryor, board member of the Hughes Library, and host of the opening day. Also there to ensure all the merchandise was displayed in the most appealing fashion was Dee Salomon and behind the register Libby Mitchell, ringing up the robust first day sales.
The Local is located at 415 Sharon-Goshen Turnpike or as locals like to say, the hairdresser’s next to “Todd’s old pottery shop,” referring of course to Todd Piker’s former pottery shop in the same building, next to the “pink house.”
A steady stream of well wishers and shoppers filed in and out of the store while I was there, including state representative Maria Horn and her daughter Maude. The store itself lives up to its name as truly a local Cornwall market with items from seven farms and two potters with more to come. Many items sold out early, including of course all the delicacies from Suzie’s Sweets.
Two deep freezers handle meat, pork, chicken, and lamb from local farms including Hurlburt Beef, Maple Hill Farm, and Birdseye and Tanner Brooks Farm. James Fox offers frozen soup and lasagna (get there early, the lasagna sold out quickly!).
Across the room a handsome new glass door refrigerator houses raw milk, chocolate milk and eggs from Calf & Clover Creamery. Shelves next to that have displays of Ridgway Farm’s maple syrup in beautiful gift-worthy bottles as well as Sweet Fire Honey, offering jars of Carolina Reaper pepper-infused Litchfield honey.
Tables are adorned with handsome wool throws from Clover Hill Alpacas as well as various wool products from Birdseye and Tanner Brooks Farm finished at Under Mountain Weavers in Salisbury.
Adding to the product mix were various pottery offerings from Jane Herold and Sanah Peterson as well as floral arrangements from Rodriquez Brothers, textiles and colored pencils from Joy Setton and handmade masks from Malka Percal.
Delightful watercolor depictions of our nearby iconic covered bridge by Robert Adzema, all for sale of course, adorned the walls near the entrance. Store hours are 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Saturday only. Items soon to be added include more food and giftable items for the holidays.
Emilie let me know that the board of the Hughes will be hosting a holiday pop-up event on Saturday, December 19 featuring gift items from Cornwall and neighboring towns with all proceeds donated back to the Local. If you have not already checked it out, and even if you have, be sure to get there early this Saturday and every Saturday to take home a slice of Cornwall goodness.
—Bob Meyers
📸: Photos by Bob Meyers
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- Exterior of the Local 415 Sharon-Goshen Tpke
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- Gift items inside the Local on display
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- Emilie Pryor and Libby Mitchell at the Local
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- Dick Sears and Brenda Singer looking over what’s left on the board
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- Maria Horn and daughter Maude at the Local
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- Dairy products from Calf & Clover Creamery
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- Wool items and textiles on display
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- Colored pencils and textiles from Joy Setton
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- Libby Mitchell checking meat inventory in one of the two deep freezers
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- Sanah Petersen handcrafted ceramic ware
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- Jane Herold Pottery
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- Rodriguez Brothers flower arrangements
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- Sweet Fire Honey
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- Ridgway Farm pure maple syrup
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- Dee Salomon dressing up the shop
