Meet The New Businesses Opening In Downtown Nantucket In 2025

A handful of downtown businesses won't be returning this year - including Vis-A-Vis and The Black Dog on Main Street, Dune restaurant on Broad Street, The Lovely on Washington Street, and the Vanderbilt Gallery on Federal Street, among others.

But with spring just around the corner, some of those spots are preparing to reopen with new tenants and businesses, according to recent applications filed with various town agencies. Here's a rundown of what we know so far about the new additions to downtown Nantucket.

Mór Wine:

Oran Mor chef and owner Edwin Claflin recently completed the purchase of 16 Federal Street with Eileen Harkness, the owner of the resale boutique Commonwealth Nantucket. Claflin and Harkness are seeking to transfer the liquor license from the former Current Vintage store on Easy Street to open a new boutique bottle shop called "Mór Wine" that will share the space with Commonwealth Nantucket, which will move from its current spot on Oak Street. The former tenant at 16 Federal Street, the clothing boutique Atlantic, will be reopening in a new downtown spot.

"Our goal is to continue to serve the downtown and the wine lovers that Current Vintage served so well for 14 years," Claflin told the Current. "Mór Wine will be a boutique bottle shop in the historic downtown of Nantucket, two blocks away from its sister business Oran Mor Bistro and its award-winning wine and spirits list. We will differentiate ourselves and try to find our own niche from the other off-premise shops by focusing on a curated list of grower-produced champagnes, independent wine makers, award-winning spirits, unique vermouths, along with interesting digestifs and aperitifs. Signature spirits and ingredients featured on our restaurant’s cocktail program will be highlighted and displayed along with menus and food pairing suggestions. Eileen Harkness will be running her lovely boutique consignment shop Commonwealth intermixed with the new bottle shop, which we hope to bring in vintage glass and barware along with other products to curate home entertaining."

A hearing on the license transfer will be held on March 10th at 11 a.m. before the Select Board.

ECD Automotive Design: 

Moving in across from the Easy Street Basin this summer will be ECD Automotive Design, which bills itself as "the world's largest Land Rover and Jaguar restoration company known for its custom luxury builds, including bespoke Defenders, Range Rovers, Jaguar E-Types and Ford Mustangs." The company will be leasing the space at 10 Easy Street, utilizing the location for a "concept showroom," a showhouse, and gathering space.

"Working with Ten Easy Street will provide an exciting opportunity to expand our retail presence and showcase our one-of-one vehicles in a setting ideally suited for unique brands, high end luxury and bespoke experiences," said ECD's CEO Scott Wallace in a press release. "Ten Easy Street will showcase ECD vehicles that will be available for sale on the island of Nantucket in 2025 and allow us to host exclusive client events from Daffodil Weekend through Holiday Stroll."

The company plans to display two of its vehicles on the property's small lawn area at the corner of Easy Street and Cambridge Street during the season.

Birdie:

After 13 years on Washington Street, Julie Biondi's boutique The Lovely closed its doors at the end of 2024. But the space will soon be filled by a new boutique from Nantucket interior designer Nina Liddle called "Birdie." The name was inspired by Liddle's childhood nickname, and the boutique will be "a reflection of Nina’s passion for design, travel, and creating spaces that bring joy. Curated with an eye for beauty and quality, Birdie offers the perfect blend of furniture, accessories, clothing, and gifts to inspire your home and lifestyle." Liddle is aiming to open the boutique in April.

Ellsworth & Ivey

Taking over the former Vis-A-Vis spot at 34 Main Street is Taylor Ivey's knitwear brand Ellsworth & Ivey, which has sold its Nantucket sweaters at The Skinny Dip on Old South Wharf over the past decade. Ellsworth & Ivey has previously had a presence on the island as a pop-up in various boutiques, and the new store on Main Street will be its first standalone retail location. Ivey told the Current it "will feature its signature heritage-style knitwear alongside a curated selection of complementary women’s, men’s, and home brands."

HOTHAUS:

Slated for the upstairs space at 53 Main Street above Townpool is a new venture called "HOTHAUS Nantucket," which will provide "infrared heated pilates" and yoga. The property, which is owned by Vaios Theodorakos’ VTT Property Management, is being leased to Lauren Kessler who plans to create "a welcoming community providing infrared heated sculpt, yoga, mat pilates and strength classes. Our classes combine heat, music, breath, and movement for a challenging, detoxifying, and invigorating experience." The Framingham-based VTT Property Management owns more than 70 other commercial and residential properties across the island.

DÔEN:

The women-owned clothing brand DÔEN will soon be moving into The Black Dog's former spot at 32 Main Street. The company currently operates six other stores - including locations in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, New York City, the Hamptons, Newport Beach, and Marin - and offers "collections inspired by a nostalgia for the coastal California of decades past." The building is owned by Nantucket Island Resorts.

ASHA By Ashley McCormick:

The lifestyle brand ASHA By Ashley McCormick, which features jewelry, clothing, and accessories, will be moving into the space formerly occupied by the Vanderbilt Gallery at 18 Federal Street. ASHA already has stores in Greenwich, Conn., and Palm Beach, Fla. The Nantucket store is expected to be open by May. The property is owned by Nantucket Island Resorts.

Nantucket Event Company

Back in July 2024, three island businesses that were among the biggest names in Nantucket's events industry - Nantucket Tents,  Placesetters Inc., and Soiree Floral- were sold to LeFort Interests, a limited liability company registered in Florida and led by Alec LeFort. Now the three businesses are being consolidated and rebranded as Nantucket Event Company, which will have a new showroom at 28 Centre Street. 

Billie's On Broad:

With Dune restaurant closing after a 16-year run on Broad Street, Florida restaurateur Lee Lyons, the owner of Kiki On The River, a Greek restaurant in Miami, purchased the establishment and will soon open a new steakhouse called "Billie's On Broad." Last month Lyons was granted several licenses by the Select Board on Monday as the restaurant undergoes a complete interior renovation ahead of its opening slated for the summer of 2025.

“We want it to be available to everyone – for the summer crowd and for locals - to feel comfortable while giving it new life,” Lyon told the Current back in October after he inked the deal with Getter. “There will be a Miami flare, the music will be turned up a little, and we want it to be a fun atmosphere, a new type of dining experience.”

Lyons has hired Anna Worgess-Smith, who has worked in the island restaurant industry for years at Proprietors and Black-Eyed Susan's, to be the general manager of Billie's On Broad. Steve Rhee, formerly of Kiki's On The River, will be the restaurant's chef and co-owner. Read more about "Billie's on Broad" by clicking here. 

Easy Street Restaurant:

After sitting vacant for years, the building at 31 Easy Street - the former home of Schooner's and the Easy Street Restaurant - may soon be revived. Plans have been filed to reopen the property with a 200-seat restaurant. If the necessary licenses are acquired, manager Milan Basnet will open the establishment as the Easy Street Restaurant this spring after striking a deal to lease the property from Todd Arno, who has owned the building since the 1970s.

"We aim to create a space where every generation could come together and be authentically themselves," Basnet said. "Where the cuisine is outstanding, prepared daily in house from genuine local and high quality ingredients, featuring a menu that is varied, accessible, and reasonably priced. Our menu will comfortably cater to gluten-free, vegan, and other dietary-restricted options."

Read more about the Easy Street Restaurant proposal by clicking here.