SPRINGFIELD – While hoards of shoppers have jammed the region’s malls for Christmas shopping, some discerning buyers have made their way to The Shops at Marketplace in downtown Springfield for a cozier holiday retail experience.
Owners of Simply Serendipity, a women’s specialty store — an anchor of the complex of shops located in the old Johnson’s Bookstore building — were helping a steady stream of customers pick out one-of-a-kind gifts including purses, scarves, jewelry, chocolates and holiday cards and decorations.
Other shops on the pedestrian way include Alchemy Nail Bar and NOSH restaurant, which has recently acquired a full-liquor license and is now serving dinner three evenings a week.
Debra Mainolfi of West Springfield and Nancy Gentile of Holyoke, who are regulars at Serendipity, said the store is their favorite place to shop because of the unique locally made items they find.
“It’s not at all like going to the mall where you have to go through racks and racks of the same thing, Mainolfi said. “This is a whole different experience. The owners make you feel like family.”
“I like that they support women entrepreneurs here,” Gentile said.
Mikki Lessard and Nancy Feth, co-owners of Serendipity, have expanded hours over the holiday season. They say their mission is help women-owned businesses find a market for their creations. “We want to empower women,” Feth said.
While most of the items sold are from women-owned businesses, there are exceptions – including Wilbraham-based Pop’s Biscotti and Chocolates.
Each item in the store is carefully curated to appeal to buyers who are looking for off-the-beaten path shopping experiences. “We want to sell things that have a story,” Feth said.
We are humbled and honored to support the retail renaissance of downtown Springfield as we celebrate our fifth holiday season,” Lessard said.
Last year, Lessard and Feth received recognition from the U.S. Small Business Administration for New England as Microenterprise of the year.
Lessard hopes more shoppers will discover what she says is one of downtown’s best kept secrets. “We don’t want to be too secret,” she added
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno has called the marketplace “a gem.”
The Shops at Marketplace are a bit off the beaten path, But those who have discovered them keep coming back. The shops are accessible through an atrium at 1341 Main Street. The shops at the rear of the atrium are located between Harrison Avenue and Bruce Landon Way.
After browsing and buying items at Serendipity, some shoppers gravitated across the hallway for lunch at NOSH by TLS Foods. The restaurant, owned by Terri Skinner, serves up paninis, vegetarian and meat-based sandwiches, soups, salads, bread and sweets.
Serendipity has extended its hours for the holiday season. The shop is open Monday through Saturday
Serendity is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m Tuesday through Saturday through Saturday, Dec. 21.
NOSH is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for dinner.