The Anchor Society of East Hampton will continue the Winter Shops program it inaugurated last year to provide downtown retail space to local businesses in the off-season. This year, the nonprofit is again working with the fashion brand Alice + Olivia, the leaseholder at 79 Main Street, where Our Fabulous Variety Show and SewHampton will take up temporary residence starting Oct. 4.
Our Fabulous Variety Show, a nonprofit dance and performing arts company founded by Anita Boyer and Kasia Klimiuk, offers classes to students of all ages, some of which will now be held on Main Street. SewHampton, owned by Kathryn Reid, provides sewing lessons and alterations, and will have group classes and sip-and-sew parties in the space.
“We are truly honored to be trusted with this incredible opportunity and know it will have such a positive impact on our ability to run our fabulous programs and gain visibility in the community,” Ms. Boyer said in a release.
“SewHampton is thrilled to join forces with Our Fabulous Variety Show and the Anchor Society in this new space,” Ms. Reid said. “This collaboration allows us to expand our sewing classes and creative offerings while being part of a vibrant community hub right on Main Street.”
One of the goals of the Anchor Society is to maintain a vibrant village core at a time when many seasonal businesses close up shop. This is the second year of the Winter Shops program; the nonprofit expects to announce a seasonal placement of another local business in a downtown shop later this fall.
Our Fabulous Variety Show plans an open house on Oct. 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. SewHampton will have an open house on Oct. 7 from 4:30 to 6:30.