(Dec. 8, 2016) After seven years in business, Berlin shop Bungalow Love will do something it’s never done before – celebrate a proper grand opening.
During the town’s 2nd Friday art stroll at the end of this week, the store will finally hold a ribbon cutting and open house
Owner Heather Layton said the business began with a successful show at the Globe during Holiday Arts Night in Berlin, where she and her sister were featured.
At the same time, she said, a former custom-frame shop on Williams Street had gone out of business and became available when the owner retired. Layton saw a “for rent” sign with a phone number in the window, made a call and set up a meeting to see the building.
It was apparently a short meeting.
“I went in and I was just like, ‘yes.’ The price was right and it wasn’t too, too scary,” Layton said. “But when I first opened I was so empty – I just had my jewelry and a couple pieces of furniture I’d redone, and the handbags that my sister made. That’s how it started.”
Layton signed a one-year lease.
“Within the first month of being open, I had made three-months’ rent. That’s when I thought, maybe I had made the right decision,” Layton said. “I was just shocked. Not only the locals, but lots of people were just stopping in. Luckily I was next to the public restrooms, which I always hated telling people, but it was a plus.”
About a year and a half ago, Bungalow Love relocated to 9 South Main Street, adding more room not only for the items handmade by Layton and her sister, but also for scores of items made by other local artisans. The shop also carries vintage and Fair Trade goods, and offers do-it-yourself classes.
“I loved the old building and I adored that space, but it’s nice having well over double the amount of space here and more opportunities,” Layton said. “There’s a courtyard in the back now, so we have paint nights out back, and we have bachelorette parties and [build-your-on] terrarium parties and birthday parties. It’s just nice to be able to expand.”
Layton said she never had a grand opening or a ribbon cutting for either location, instead favoring a “super-soft” opening for the new Main Street location, last March.
“Then I just stayed open,” she said with a laugh. “On Friday we’re doing a ribbon cutting at 6 p.m. Dana Helmuth is playing some live music for me and we’ll have a chiminea out back for s’mores and just have an open-house style event.”
Sheppard Realty on 19 North Main Street, which never had formal fanfare when it opened a decade ago, will also have an open house on Friday. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held there at 7 p.m.
Additionally, a Holiday Maker’s Market will be held inside the Visitor’s Center on 14 South Main Street from 5-8 p.m.
“Several really great artisans are setting up and I believe we have live music as well,” Layton said.
For more information on Bungalow Love, call 410-641-2781 or visit www.facebook.com/BungalowLove.
Berlin’s 2nd Friday festivities will feature art displays in shops throughout the downtown area, along with sales and specials in area restaurants, from 5-8 p.m.
During the town’s 2nd Friday art stroll at the end of this week, the store will finally hold a ribbon cutting and open house
Owner Heather Layton said the business began with a successful show at the Globe during Holiday Arts Night in Berlin, where she and her sister were featured.
At the same time, she said, a former custom-frame shop on Williams Street had gone out of business and became available when the owner retired. Layton saw a “for rent” sign with a phone number in the window, made a call and set up a meeting to see the building.
It was apparently a short meeting.
“I went in and I was just like, ‘yes.’ The price was right and it wasn’t too, too scary,” Layton said. “But when I first opened I was so empty – I just had my jewelry and a couple pieces of furniture I’d redone, and the handbags that my sister made. That’s how it started.”
Layton signed a one-year lease.
“Within the first month of being open, I had made three-months’ rent. That’s when I thought, maybe I had made the right decision,” Layton said. “I was just shocked. Not only the locals, but lots of people were just stopping in. Luckily I was next to the public restrooms, which I always hated telling people, but it was a plus.”
About a year and a half ago, Bungalow Love relocated to 9 South Main Street, adding more room not only for the items handmade by Layton and her sister, but also for scores of items made by other local artisans. The shop also carries vintage and Fair Trade goods, and offers do-it-yourself classes.
“I loved the old building and I adored that space, but it’s nice having well over double the amount of space here and more opportunities,” Layton said. “There’s a courtyard in the back now, so we have paint nights out back, and we have bachelorette parties and [build-your-on] terrarium parties and birthday parties. It’s just nice to be able to expand.”
Layton said she never had a grand opening or a ribbon cutting for either location, instead favoring a “super-soft” opening for the new Main Street location, last March.
“Then I just stayed open,” she said with a laugh. “On Friday we’re doing a ribbon cutting at 6 p.m. Dana Helmuth is playing some live music for me and we’ll have a chiminea out back for s’mores and just have an open-house style event.”
Sheppard Realty on 19 North Main Street, which never had formal fanfare when it opened a decade ago, will also have an open house on Friday. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held there at 7 p.m.
Additionally, a Holiday Maker’s Market will be held inside the Visitor’s Center on 14 South Main Street from 5-8 p.m.
“Several really great artisans are setting up and I believe we have live music as well,” Layton said.
For more information on Bungalow Love, call 410-641-2781 or visit www.facebook.com/BungalowLove.
Berlin’s 2nd Friday festivities will feature art displays in shops throughout the downtown area, along with sales and specials in area restaurants, from 5-8 p.m.