By Sophie Foster
News Co-Editor
Chestertown gift and trinket shop Twigs and Teacups is set to reopen at its primary Cross Street address this week following almost a year of renovations, during which the business momentarily moved to High Street to continue accommodating its shoppers downtown.
After a temporary reopening and open house on Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8 to celebrate First Friday and the Chestertown Farmers Market by allowing visitors to see the changes the shop underwent, the business is set to open its doors up for regular shopping again.
Visitors to the open house saw several major changes to the interior of the business. Lockbriar and Daughter Ice Cream also served two flavors of ice cream designed to celebrate the occasion and commemorate the history of the space Twigs and Teacups occupies, in consideration of the building’s origins as an ice cream factory.
Initially built in 1922 by Henry and Lee Gill, the location’s first life was as the Gill Brothers Ice Cream Factory. According to The Chestertown Spy, the factory was managed from this location until its closure in 1953, after which several businesses and offices filled the space for the ensuing decades. These renovations not only indicate the turning of a page for Twigs and Teacups, but also serve as a celebration of the building’s 100th anniversary in Chestertown.
Renovations made to historic buildings are a major conversational subject in Chestertown as of late, with multiple other buildings undergoing both structural improvements and aesthetic alterations while maintaining the buildings’ historical integrity. Many of these efforts were made on the Washington College campus itself, including major renovations to Minta Martin Hall and Reid Hall, as well as impending renovations to East Hall, Middle Hall, and West Hall.
According to Kent County News, though major renovations are finished, there are still upcoming goals for Twigs and Teacups, including the installation of an elevator, a security system, internet connectivity, improvements to the vestibule, new landscaping, and lighting alternations. The endpost for these goals is presently set at January 2023.
According to a social media post made by Twigs and Teacups on Sunday, Oct. 16, they planned to reopen Wednesday, Oct. 26, which will allow for patronage ahead of and during Chestertown’s Sultana Education Foundation’s Downrigging Festival, to be held from Friday, Oct. 28 to Sunday, Oct. 30. Until the reopening, both the temporary and primary locations are to remain closed to allow for the employees to pack up, move, and set up the shop.
“Many hands make light work,” the post said. “Sure is true when you have such an amazing staff.”
Those interested in stopping by Twigs and Teacups, either to shop or to see the refurbished space, can find the business at its primary address, 111 S. Cross Street. Members of the community can also stay updated by following the business on social media at twigsandteacups on Instagram or Twigs and Teacups on Facebook.