The heritage buildings in a city like St. John’s afford many a unique opportunity to artists and entrepreneurs who are looking for a special, one-of-a-kind space in which to create or do business. Now, one local entrepreneur is working on expanding her business, while helping out other entrepreneurs at the same time.
If you’ve ever strolled around downtown St. John’s, you’re probably familiar with Posie Row. Anita Carroll established the Duckworth Street business just over two decades ago and it has since become a fixture in the downtown core. Currently, Carroll is expanding her business into the space next door – the former Pollyanna Art & Antique Gallery – while maintaining the heritage of the 123-year-old building.
The expansion will not only benefit Posie Row, it will open up affordable retail space to other local, independent business owners as well. Carroll plans to rent out the upper three floors of the restored space – nine rooms in total, though she estimates the space can support as many as 15 businesses if several of the rooms are shared.
Carroll says while the focus is on “retailers of pretty much any variety,” arts and craft producers are welcome too, so long as they meet the criteria and there are no safety/liability issues.
Her overall vision for the space, Carroll says, includes “a variety of independent retailers throughout the building, with a common room for events and pop-up shops.”
“These could be book signings, clothing swaps, poetry readings, soap-making tutorials, lunch counters, henna tattooing, knitting bees, etc. The property has been restored, not renovated, and will appeal to a tourist market for that reason as well. If there are local producers, I’m sure they’ll do well with the tourist market. But a place for locals to shop is the focus,” she adds.
Carroll hopes the expanded Posie Row and event room will be open by September 1, with entrepreneurs occupying the new spaces starting early October.
If you are a craftsperson/retailer and are interested in this opportunity, contact Anita Carroll at anita@posierow.com
