Press Kit

News from Mt Washington Valley, NH – May 10, 2017

Contact:  Marti Mayne, 207-84606331, PR@mtwashingtonvalley.org

LOOK WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MT WASHINGTON VALLEY’S SHOPPING SCENE

Settlers Green Streetside slated to open Fall, 2017 with ten new stores, a restaurant and a streetscape of unique New England artworks and White Mountain Independents formed

North Conway, NH - The retail scene is changing on North Conway’s shopping strip.  Gone are most of the empty storefronts of the former strip malls, replaced by attractive architect-designed retail villages and the hustle and bustle of construction crews working to build Settlers Green’s newest addition called “Settlers Green Streetside”. It’s an exciting time at Settlers Green, Mt Washington Valley’s largest shopping complex and a recognized regional outlet mall.  Slated to open this fall with ten new stores and a restaurant, Settlers Green Streetside is the newest addition to the Settlers Green complex, making it one of New England’s largest independently owned outlet malls.  To date new stores announced for the Streetside complex are Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Columbia Sportswear Outlet, Francesca’s, and Sketcher’s Shoe Outlet.

Yet Settlers Green Streetside is not the only hub for activity at Settlers Green.  Over the last year, a number of new tenants have joined the Settlers Green family including Corningware, Corelle and More, Express Factory Store and Wicked Fresh Burgers.  Additionally, the Settlers Green Customer Service Center has added a handicapped restroom and a comfortable Mother’s Feeding Room, increasingly popular at public places.  A courtyard resurfacing project will take place over the next few weeks, adding a patio-like finish the gazebo area, entirely created by local contractors.

And up the street, blue flags are showing up on shops throughout North Conway Village and Jackson. Why? A number of independently-and-locally owned stores and shops have formed a new organization called White Mountain Independents.  Dedicated to a shop local model, the 19 members of the White Mountain Independents are working together to support locally-owned shops located throughout the Valley. While they’re not all in one location, members of White Mountain Independents are partnering to maintain an active sales and events calendar and help raise awareness about locally-owned shopping, starting with the blue flags they’re hanging outside the member shops.

Speaking of Local

While it hosts national manufacturers, Settlers Green owner, Rob Barsamian, is committed to buying local as often as possible, a commitment General Manager, Dot Seybold, applauds.  To the extent possible, the new Streetside complex has utilized local labor, locally milled wood and local artwork.  Gordon T Burke & Sons, headquartered and serving the Mt Washington Valley since 1946, is the general contractor for the project.  Drywall is being provided by North Conway-based Greyson Carrier and Son, and electric work is provided by DW Electrical Contractors of Albany, NH.  Much of the lumber being delivered these days comes from Milan Lumber in Milan, NH. And local contractors are not just found at the new Streetside complex. This summer local gardener, Michelle DeLucia, is planting hundreds of container and perennial gardens and creating a garden "walk" with identification markers at the Settlers Green Village.  The result? Millions of dollars are poured back into the Mt Washington Valley economy, creating jobs for residents.

Wicked Fresh Burgers, the newest addition to the Settlers Green line-up of businesses, is located in Settlers Corner, next to Staples.  Locally owned and operated as the name implies, this is as fresh as it gets.  In fact, the herbs used here only travel a matter of feet from the in-restaurant greenhouse to the kitchen.  Custom ground beef patties are locally sourced. Potatoes are grown by Green Thumb Farms in Fryeburg, and the beers found here are brewed just up the road. According to their website, the only thing you’ll find that’s been frozen here is their ice cream.  The business is owned and operated by locals, Marc and Kathy Iannuzzi, well known for their two North Conway Cupcakery restaurants, and Daniel and Angelys Rassi.

Taking a lesson from the successful Valley Originals restaurant group, the White Mountain Independents is a Valley-wide network of locally owned and operated businesses that have joined together to promote the positive economic and community benefits of spending dollars locally. With 19 members ranging from Jackson to Intervale to North Conway Village, members are identified by the blue flags hanging outside the store. Individually and as an organization, the White Mountain Independents support other local organizations, charities and activities and are all involved in the community effort.

New England artworks to highlight Streetscape

For years, Settlers Green has enhanced the shopping experience with a full line up of events, local entertainment and now artwork.  Their mission is to enhance the shopping experience, one of the hallmarks of Mt Washington Valley’s tourism draw. To continue the commitment to local, and to expand the draw of the shopping center beyond purely retail, an RFP to attract New England artwork for the new Streetside Settlers Green Center was distributed in February. The “streetscape” of the new Streetside Center will complement the retail buildings and its outside areas. The artworks by New England artists are intended to be a part of the streetscape, along with gardens, play areas, courtyard dining and comfortable seating that adds to the shopping experience at Settlers Green.

“We have long recognized that part of our success and our strength as a North Conway outlet center is tied directly to how our customers appreciate not just the shopping and brands, but also the entire shopping experience," said Dot Seybold. “Public art is often a dynamic and enriching encounter on its own, experiencing it while shopping will be a delightful surprise to our visitors and shoppers, and will help to draw people to the center,” finished Seybold.

The RFP requested artworks including wall murals, sculptures, glass, paintings and low relief sculptures. Soon the decisions will be made to purchase $50,000 in New England-made artworks. The three pieces of “important” art and three designs of whimsical and wall mural artwork will be purchased from among the many beautiful artworks submitted for consideration.  These pieces will be displayed in the new Streetside complex.

Every visitor who visits Mt Washington Valley reports that shopping was an important element of their vacation.  From the eclectic stores and boutiques in North Conway, Jackson, Fryeburg and Conway to the White Mountain Independents to the outlets at Settlers Green, tax-free shopping is one of Mt Washington Valley’s most important tourism attractions.  When added to the thriving retail network in Mt Washington Valley, Settlers Green’s new additions to the Valley’s retail scene and the White Mountain Independents, both with a focus on local, bodes well for the Mt Washington Valley economy for decades to come.

To learn more about Mt Washington Valley’s thriving shopping scene, visit ShopMWV.com or call 1-800-367-3364 (800-DO-SEE-NH).  To learn more about visiting and shopping in New Hampshire, go to www.VisitNH.gov.

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