A changing scene for Tisbury business
Despite several vacant storefronts along Main Street, Tisbury commerce gained ground this summer. Several new businesses opened, adding variety to the mix, and familiar and established shops expanded services and completed renovations.
In conversations with The Times, retail and restaurant owners and employees around Vineyard Haven said this summer’s business climate seems better than in 2009, which suffered through rainy June weather and a dismal economy.
For some Tisbury business owners, the solution to a slow business climate was to find a new space, or products.
One door closed and another one opened for MV Heart Boutique owner Rob’n Mussell. Success in finding a new retail niche to fill prompted her to move from Main Street to a bigger space on Union Street.
In January, Ms. Mussell considered closing her shop, which features her MV heart jewelry line, and teen and women’s clothing and accessories. As a last-ditch effort, she expanded her inventory with some women’s lingerie and jump-started Valentine’s Day sales with a pre-holiday party for men. That formula proved successful, as did subsequent lingerie parties for women.
