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Open at the Oxbow
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imgThe Oxbow Public Market opened its doors to the public yesterday with six venders ready for business. The new market, with fresh local food, fruit and seafood stores, spice and tea shops, a restaurant and market stalls will be a destination for both locals and tourists. Lianne Milton/Register Photos | Buy photos -
imgEric and Lisa Gordan, with their daughter, Madison, check out the space. | Buy photos -
imgDave Wong plays the “guquin,” a seven-string Chinese zither, at Tillerman Tea. | Buy photos
First merchants at new marketplace share their wares
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CommentNapans got a taste of something to come Saturday, at the soft opening of the Oxbow Public Market.
On the menu Saturday were six of the 23 vendors, ready to greet customers on First Street next door to Copia in the up-and-coming Oxbow District.
On the menu Saturday were six of the 23 vendors, ready to greet customers on First Street next door to Copia in the up-and-coming Oxbow District.
“It looks like it has got potential,” Dave Allen of Napa said succinctly, as merchants unpacked and construction crews worked quietly in the background.
“I see this as a place I would send people to,” said Allen, who operates Artefacts Design & Salvage at Cornerstone Gardens near Sonoma.
“I see this as a place I would send people to,” said Allen, who operates Artefacts Design & Salvage at Cornerstone Gardens near Sonoma.
Why come out on opening day?
“I am curious,” Allen said. “The building is nice. I would even consider opening something here.”
“I am curious,” Allen said. “The building is nice. I would even consider opening something here.”
While some Oxbow merchants were still putting their shops together, Jackie Caldwell-Rhoades of Fête was open for business.
Fête sells a selection of hostess and party planning supplies such as invitations, note cards, and other entertaining wares. Caldwell-Rhoades, who works as a consultant for a research firm in San Francisco but also lives part-time in Napa, said she picked Oxbow for her first retail venture because of the other merchants scheduled to open in the market.
“I like the idea of being the finishing touch of a buying experience,” she said. “I wanted to build a comprehensive entertaining offering.”
Shoppers that visit the market to prepare a special dinner or party can stop by Fête for invitations, letterpress note cards, napkins, place mats and other hostess supplies, said Caldwell-Rhoades.
“People seem to be really happy with it. They’re buying a little bit of everything,” she said. “I’m happy with it.”
“It’s a nice rolling opening,” said Anette Madsen of Anette’s Chocolates, who worked the counter of her new store with brother, Brent.
“It’s nice to be open first, (and) watch everyone else open,” said Brent Madsen. “We’re just really excited about this.”
“This is a wonderful thing for tourists and for Napa,” said Anette Madsen, who runs another popular shop on First Street, across from Napa Town Center.
This is the chocolatier’s first foray into a second location. “It’s a little overwhelming but very do-able,” said Anette Madsen. The new Oxbow location puts the spotlight on her chocolates, brittles and sauces, she said, unlike her First Street location that also sells ice cream, candy, gifts and coffee.
Madsen believes that until the new Avia hotel opens downtown, her Oxbow store may actually do more business than her First Street store. But once Avia opens, she expects business downtown to increase as well. “We’re in the middle of growth on both sides,” she said.
Napa County Superintendent of Schools Barbara Nemko, who gave the Oxbow Public Market a look Saturday, gave Napa’s newest venue a thumbs up. “I think it will do great.”
Nemko likes the idea of a multitude of shops under one roof. Because she lives nearby, Nemko said it is the kind of place she can see herself visiting on a regular basis.
Napan Linda Baker said, “I’m real excited about this. You are able to shop for the same quality as you can get in San Francisco.”
Baker said she was somewhat disappointed that the spice store wasn’t open Saturday.
Steve Carlin, the developer of the Oxbow Public Market, said while all vendors are not open, he wanted the public to get an idea of what the site is all about.
Carlin described Saturday as “a rolling opening” of what is to come between now and the middle of January, when all tenants are expected to be operating.
Steven Rothfeld is a photographer who has collaborated on a number of books, magazine articles and other projects with a variety of nationally-recognized authors. After meeting with Oxbow developer Steve Carlin, Rothfeld decided to open his first retail business, Kitchen Library, selling his photographs and a carefully edited selection of goods he’s sourced from around the world.
His selections include baskets from the Loire Valley, stationery from Florence and ceramics from France, Italy and even Sebastopol.
“It’s the concept of a market that I like,” said Rothfeld. “I love the intimacy of this space,” he said.
Opening day was exciting, he said.
“I’ve been obsessing about this for a year,” he said. “I’m happy to launch it.”
Fête sells a selection of hostess and party planning supplies such as invitations, note cards, and other entertaining wares. Caldwell-Rhoades, who works as a consultant for a research firm in San Francisco but also lives part-time in Napa, said she picked Oxbow for her first retail venture because of the other merchants scheduled to open in the market.
“I like the idea of being the finishing touch of a buying experience,” she said. “I wanted to build a comprehensive entertaining offering.”
Shoppers that visit the market to prepare a special dinner or party can stop by Fête for invitations, letterpress note cards, napkins, place mats and other hostess supplies, said Caldwell-Rhoades.
“People seem to be really happy with it. They’re buying a little bit of everything,” she said. “I’m happy with it.”
“It’s a nice rolling opening,” said Anette Madsen of Anette’s Chocolates, who worked the counter of her new store with brother, Brent.
“It’s nice to be open first, (and) watch everyone else open,” said Brent Madsen. “We’re just really excited about this.”
“This is a wonderful thing for tourists and for Napa,” said Anette Madsen, who runs another popular shop on First Street, across from Napa Town Center.
This is the chocolatier’s first foray into a second location. “It’s a little overwhelming but very do-able,” said Anette Madsen. The new Oxbow location puts the spotlight on her chocolates, brittles and sauces, she said, unlike her First Street location that also sells ice cream, candy, gifts and coffee.
Madsen believes that until the new Avia hotel opens downtown, her Oxbow store may actually do more business than her First Street store. But once Avia opens, she expects business downtown to increase as well. “We’re in the middle of growth on both sides,” she said.
Napa County Superintendent of Schools Barbara Nemko, who gave the Oxbow Public Market a look Saturday, gave Napa’s newest venue a thumbs up. “I think it will do great.”
Nemko likes the idea of a multitude of shops under one roof. Because she lives nearby, Nemko said it is the kind of place she can see herself visiting on a regular basis.
Napan Linda Baker said, “I’m real excited about this. You are able to shop for the same quality as you can get in San Francisco.”
Baker said she was somewhat disappointed that the spice store wasn’t open Saturday.
Steve Carlin, the developer of the Oxbow Public Market, said while all vendors are not open, he wanted the public to get an idea of what the site is all about.
Carlin described Saturday as “a rolling opening” of what is to come between now and the middle of January, when all tenants are expected to be operating.
Steven Rothfeld is a photographer who has collaborated on a number of books, magazine articles and other projects with a variety of nationally-recognized authors. After meeting with Oxbow developer Steve Carlin, Rothfeld decided to open his first retail business, Kitchen Library, selling his photographs and a carefully edited selection of goods he’s sourced from around the world.
His selections include baskets from the Loire Valley, stationery from Florence and ceramics from France, Italy and even Sebastopol.
“It’s the concept of a market that I like,” said Rothfeld. “I love the intimacy of this space,” he said.
Opening day was exciting, he said.
“I’ve been obsessing about this for a year,” he said. “I’m happy to launch it.”
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jane grace wrote on Dec 16, 2007 2:15 AM:
NapaNative times five wrote on Dec 16, 2007 10:55 AM:
southnapareader wrote on Dec 16, 2007 2:14 PM:
Selim wrote on Dec 17, 2007 7:13 AM: