New Grocer Pip & Anchor Officially Opens Wednesday

Pip & Anchor, the new grocery store on Amelia Drive featuring local food and produce, will officially open its doors for business at 9 a.m. this morning.

Only two short years ago, Pip & Anchor was “just a seed of an idea” that began as an online grocery store known as 100 Mile Makers. The concept - to create a marketplace for foods and goods sourced within a hundred miles of the island - resonated with many, and co-founders Chris Sleeper, Rita Higgins, and Mayumi Hattori, saw a bigger future.

The pop-up online grocery store started its pick-ups at the Born and Bread bakery on Centre Street. In March 2021, Remain Nantucket purchased the former Annye’s Whole Foods at 14 Amelia Drive, and announced that 100 Mile Makers had a new permanent home, and would become Pip & Anchor.

“We're thrilled for the next big step in our overarching mission to build community by reconnecting people to local food and goods,” Sleeper told the Current on Tuesday. “The opening of our doors at 14 Amelia is just the next chapter of our dream to play a role in building a better food system. We will be open for retail, espresso, and light pastries while we await the delivery of the rest of our kitchen equipment.”

In its first week, Pip & Anchor will be featuring goods and products from 126 local and small businesses around the region.

As Sleeper alluded to, the concept for Pip & Anchor was always more than just a grocery store featuring local food. The three founders envision the business enhance Nantucket’s food system and bring relief to those experiencing food insecurity on the island.

“In addition to the opening of in-person retail in our brick-and =-mortar, we will turn on our robust online grocery store later this week, and starting next week in partnership with Nantucket Resource Partnership and the Community Foundation we will be providing 50 food insecure island families with fresh, local produce,” Sleeper said. “It is our mission to serve this community and build it up from within while providing our neighbors with the support they deserve.”

Pip & Anchor held a soft opening for its regular customers last week, showing off the new digs within the completely renovated space that now features an open floor plan, with an espresso bar and wine closet. The new Slow To Rise Bakery, founded by Tucker Puljic and Katrina Newfrock, will also be selling its retail goods inside Pip & Anchor.

Moving forward, Pip & Anchor will be open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.