🆕 Martha's Vineyard New Business Roundup - Spring 2024

New and expanding restaurants + businesses, changes in ownership/renovations

If you take a walk down the main street of down-island towns you’ll see a variety of papered store fronts piquing your curiosity - what changes are in store for us this year!?

I’ve done my best stab at lurking Instagram, reading window signs, skimming the island newspapers and I’ve compiled a cohesive roundup of new businesses below.

Congratulations to all the incredibly brave entrepreneurs, we wish you the best of luck this season ❤️

Changing in VH - La Strada, Lapie, Island Vintage, Adrift, First Light

New Businesses

Restaurants

• La Strada (VH) - a new restaurant opening soon by the owners of Salvatore’s on Main Street, VH

• 9 Craft Kitchen (VH) a new restaurant from the owners if 19 Raw Oyster is opening this May in the old Copper Wok location on Main Street.

• Midnight Taco (OB) will move to the old Juice by the Sea space, expanding to include indoor/outdoor seating and drinks.

• Notalot (OB) a small, seasonal farm stand with pre-made food will hopefully open on Kennebec Ave in OB this season

• Wicked Burger (Edg) by the chef/owner of Alchemy is offering no-frills smash burgers, and will open next to Al’s Package Store in Edgartown

• Cozy Corner Cafe (Edg) a new European-themed cafe has opened in the old Lilikoi Cafe location.

• Seagrass Bar and Grill (Edg) by the owner of Square Rigger, will open in the former Sharky’s Edgartown location and feature pub food and an arcade.

• Midnight Mediterranean will open in the former Midnight Taco spot by the same owner.

• Menotomy, in the old location of Red Cat Kitchen, was conditionally approved to open this summer.

• Nymanz will be hosting Harvest Table, a pop-up dinner series this summer

• Good + Fantzye will be doing weekly meal drop-offs this season

• El Barco MV - the home of the new Taqueria in Vineyard Haven

• The Model Deli will open at the old location of The Larder and will be a sandwich and bagel shop by Spring Sheldon starting this season.

• Behind the View (the bar within HarborView) will open with a new name this summer.

• You Enjoy My Vegan has a new food truck and is now open at The Cove

• Fire Catering MV is a new catering company celebrating their grand opening this summer

• Quitsa Kitchen will open later this summer in the former Life at Humphrey’s location in Vineyard Haven.

Changing in OB: Midnight Taco, Jubilee, Curio and Notalot

Shops

• CurioMV (OB) - a Woman-owned shop with coastal curiosities (will take over Slight Indulgence storefront in Healy Square and continue to carry S.I. jewelry).

• Jubilee MV (OB) is Black and Women-owned gift shop taking over 42 Circuit Ave featuring trailblazing designers as part of the Inkwell Haven family of community and culture (taking over the space that was previously Tangerine MV)

• MV Streetwear (OB) is a Black and Woman-owned streetwear company at 24 Kennebec Ave

• Boutique on the Buy Way (OB) A new upscale consignment shop opened in Oak Bluffs this week - It’s loated in the Dockside Marketplace behind the Black Dog outlet store

• Lapie (VH) is a Brazilian-Owned boutique on Main Street Vineyard Haven

• Gata Fields (VH) is a Brazilian-Owned boutique on Main Street Vineyard Haven

• Adrift (VH) is a Woman-owned clothing store (taking over Island Vintage’s old space in Vineyard Haven)

• Weatherly Supply Co (VH), a Woman-owned retail store that will open in the old To Market by Juice by the Sea space by the same owner.

• Erica Wilson (Edg) - a Nantucket-based woman-owned needlework shop that will open on Kelley Street (taking over the space below Vineyard Vines/old Bryn Walker store)

• Dune Man (Edg) - an MV-based couple are opening a contemporary men's boutique (taking over the space previously ran by FatFace Edgartown).

• Free People (Edg) the national chain of women’s boho-clothing is doing a pop-up this summer (in the space on Main Street previously ran by Rochelle’s boutique).

• Sofie’s Summer Shop, a fun gift shop will open on Circuit Ave

• The Sunny Side MV, an inclusive clothing store opened at 18 Main Street in Vineyard Haven

Changing in Edgartown: Dune, Erica Wilson, Free People, Seagrass, Wicked Burger, Untameable

Wellness Services and Mobile Businesses, Etc

• Rock Solid Fitness (VH) s a Woman-owned strength and conditioning studio that opened in the old CrossFit MV space

• DermaSea (VH) is a Woman-owned skin wellness spa that opened this winter, located in Woodland Center

• Moony Dinner Party (VH) is now hosting weekly dinner Pop-Ups at S+S Kitchenette

• Aligned Pilates (Edg) is a Woman-owned Pilates studio located near Granite in Edgartown.

• Island Hearing Services (Edg)- a new Audoligist who now operates in Edgartown

• Cheap Therapy Charters (OB) is a family-owned private boat charter for a max of 6 guests operating out of Oak Bluffs.

• Salty Solutions Hydration and Wellness - three nurses are opening a Mobile IV Hydration, Vitamin Infusions and Injections business this summer.

• Inova Marketing + Communications - a new venture by Talita Destefani and Vitoria Reis sharing digital marketing services and information

• Island Health Care is opening a new Dental Clinic this summer.

• Drift MV rents high-quality, luxury childcare products, including cribs, car seats, strollers, high chairs, and more.

• ForeverMV Jewelry - a mobile permanent and handcrafted jewelry company specializing in private parties and pop-ups

• Schvitzy MV is a new mobile schvitz option available by appointment

Other Changes: Vineyard Wind, Roundabout, Souvenir Shop, Kennebec Project, Stop + Shop Edg renovation

Expansions, Ownership Changes + Movement

• New Owners or Management

  • First Light Cafe (at the MV Museum) is now managed by Aquila. You can use the cafe space without purchasing a ticket to the museum

  • Morning Glory Food Truck has re-opened with a new chef and menu for this season and now serves Veggie-forward fare

  • Loud Kitchen (OB) is a Black and woman-owned food concept in The Ritz that opened over the winter, hosting brunches with a live DJ and fun, scratch-made food.

  • Dairy Queen (Edg) was sold to an Edgartown couple and plan to re-open in June with very few changes.

• Expansion

  • Stoney Hill Pizza will add a new pastry truck, Ophelia

  • Vineyard Vines is expanding their Edgartown location to add on the space previously occupied by North Water Gallery.

• Moving

  • Island Vintage moved across the street in Vineyard Haven in the space next to Bibi’s (old Stina Sayer)

  • Untamable Gallery moved to the old Rosewater Kids space

  • North Water Gallery is now on North Summer Street

  • First Friday VH will move to Beach Street Ext. this season

• Other Changes

  • Epicure and MV Cheesery will now fall under Catboat Coffee Co umbrella - you'll still have access to the same Lebanese menu items and pre-assembled grazing boxes, but it's all under the Catboat name. Keep an eye out for additional cheesy educational offerings from MV Cheesery.

  • The Cocktail Caravan is now Summer Solstice Beverage Company - now offering bar management and coordination services for events of all sizes in addition to their Caravan

  • MV Chowder Company now offers Sushi from Sushi John who ran the Copper Wok program

We’re Still Wondering about these…

Other Island Changes

• Renovations + Evolving Infrastructure

  • The old souvenir shop next to the flying horses is nearing completion of renovation

  • You’ll also notice Healy Square in Oak Bluffs has added new benches.

  • North Bluff has a new roundabout and expanded sidewalk waiting area by the Island Queen dock.

  • The Tabernacle has a new roof.

  • The Vineyard Wind building in Vineyard Haven is nearing completion

  • Stop+Shop Edgartown reopened with a huge expansion

  • The dunes at South Beach took a beating over the winter, you’ll notice the lifeguard shack and changing rooms are no longer present

• New Events

  • Royal Chappy will host the Chappaquiddick Community Center Classic on June 22.

  • Edgartown will host the first ever Porch Fest on May 18th.

• We’re Still Wondering About…

  Have any info? Send us a note at info@mvacay.com and we will update the post!

  • VH

    • What will become of Golden Bull at Five Corners? They secured a liquor license renewal but need to find a new space in Vineyard Haven, and we don’t know what’s happening with the old space.

    • A sit-down restaurant was also approved for in the lobby of Old Stone Bank, date TBD.

  • OB

    • What will come to the recently sold space where Bombay has been? We know it has a new owners (Island Food Realty) but wonder who will revitalize that space.

    • Open Retail Spaces: We’re unsure of who and what is going into the souvenir shop next to the Flying Horses

• Goodbye (for now) to….

  • Bombay Indian Cuisine

  • Life at Humphrey’s

  • Rochelle’s Boutique

  • Stina Sayer

  • FatFace Edgartown

  • Juice by the Sea

  • Copper Wok

  • Fine Fettle Dispensary

  • The Larder

  • Superar Strike

This constantly evolving list of businesses will continue to be updated as new businesses, restaurants and expansions come to the scene in Summer 2024. I’ve defined a new business as anything that has opened between October 2023 and June of this season.

Did I miss ya? Send me a note at info@mvacay.com to be added!