The Chamber of Commerce will be relocating to new offices upstairs at Zero Main Street, providing more space for the Chamber staff. These were once the offices of Walter Beinecke and Nancy Sevrens, Sherburne Associates. The Chamber office will be closed on February 28 and 29 for an office transition and will reopen on Monday, March 3 in their new location.
After 25 great years, Peter Conway has sold the Carlisle House Inn. The new owner is Heather Sheldon, who will be the live-in manager/owner, and plans to be open year round. Peter expects to still be on island as much as possible.
The Hawthorn House at 2 Chestnut Street is for sale.
Sanford Real Estate and Great Point Properties have merged, will relocate both businesses to the corner of North Beach and Easton Streets, and will be called Great Point Properties. (Sources, Independent and the Inquirer and Mirror)
Outdoor Power Equipment, 85 Pleasant Street, has been sold to Rusty Campbell, who has changed the name to Rusty’s Outdoor Power Equipment. (Source: Nantucket Independent).
Mitchell’s Book Corner has been sold, and will remain a book store. Established in 1968, the building and business were bought by Wendy Schmidt, a summer resident and wife of Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google. Former owner Mimi Beman will continue to work at the store through then the transition, and green renovations will be made to the building.
For the full story, see the Independent and Inquirer & Mirror stories. The business will be operated by Mary Jennings and Lucretia Voigt.
In Mimi’s last weekly advertisement in the I&M, she said in part: “It is with relief, sadness, anticipation (and dreams of Italy) that I am stepping down as owner of MBC. I am passing the baton to a young, energetic, technologically savvy generation of booksellers… We feel very fortunate that it has been possible in these changing times to preserve our little literary corner of Main Street…Thank you community of Nantucket, year round, summer and yes, even day trippers, for all your support through the years.
Not at all one to pat herself on the back, Jim Sulzer and Barbara Elder sent me this, which says it better than I could:
“Nantucket has long been fortunate to have two distinctive, independent bookstores, and the purchase of Mitchell’s Book Corner by Wendy Schmidt promises to continue that run of good luck.
“As long-time owner Mimi Beman prepares to pass on the torch, it is time to acknowledge all she has done as the force behind Mitchell’s. Through her taste, care, and untiring hard work, she has created more than just a special bookstore. For the past three decades, Mimi has been nothing less than the guardian angel of Nantucket readers and writers. She has seemingly read every book, new and old, in the place and can give an informed, personal assessment of each. She knows all her customers, their families, and their histories and has shown an uncanny ability to match every reader with the right books. Meanwhile, quietly and behind the scenes, she has helped countless local authors find a publisher and an audience. She reads manuscripts, offers advice and encouragement, and stages wonderful book-signings. It’s difficult to imagine how she has found enough hours in the day to accomplish it all.
“A heartfelt thank you to Mimi from all of us who know and appreciate the many ways you have enriched our lives.”
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