M O U N TA I N ROAD MARKETPLACE
STORY & PHOTOS / Kate Carter
RAINMAKERS Some of the business owners and employees of dining,
lodging, and retail establishments in the Mountain Road Marketplace.
A mile and a half up the Mountain Road from Stowe Village is an enclave of businesses, a sort of mini borough, a mini Stowe. Named Mountain Road Marketplace in 2011, it’s the brainchild of Mary Lou Baraw, owner of Green Envy Boutique, manager of Yellow Turtle, and organizer of a group of about 15 business owners who felt there was something special about their little neighborhood. “We have an amazing group of people, products, and services in a compact area. I wanted to get the message out that we have so much to offer in just a half-mile stretch on the Mountain Road,” says Baraw. “In just a half-mile there are over 30 locally owned and operated businesses, all within walking distance. There is so much to do and so many reasons to be here.” The informally organized group meets monthly to discuss marketing efforts, talk shop, and brainstorm ways to attract visitors and residents to their businesses. They want people to know about them. “Mountain Road Marketplace is an intersection of businesses where there’s something for everyone,” explains Rachel Vandenberg, co-owner of Sun & Ski Inn and Suites and spokesperson for the group. The Mountain Road Marketplace falls within the Mountain Road Village District, one of Stowe’s five zoning districts, and extends from Sun & Ski Inn and Suites and Phoenix Table & Bar to Edelweiss Mountain Deli. In between are hotels, numerous specialty boutiques, spirits, restaurants, a convenience store, Realtors, miniature golf, medical services, home decor, yoga, a full spa, and a whole lot more. It also has easy access to the award-winning Stowe Recreation Path. The official zoning designation is commercial, and recent upgrades to the district include the first phase of a sidewalk, which was completed last fall. “The sidewalk has really united the group. It’s the thread that has drawn us together even more closely,” says Vandenberg. “The zoning plan is for more of a streetscape, with businesses close to the road and parking in back,” she adds. “Any
Shop til you drop!
Mountain Road Marketplace carves out its own niche
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future development must meet that criteria.” During the summer, the Stowe Farmers’ Market is a big draw for the Marketplace. Sandwiched between the Blue Donkey and Red Barn Shops, the Sunday market is so popular that special parking arrangements and traffic management become necessary along the Mountain Road. In the near future, the Mountain Road Marketplace will be enhanced by two unique entities that are currently in the planning stages: Stowe Bowl, an eight-lane bowling venue, and the Alchemist Brewery, brewers of the highly coveted Heady Topper. “We are an evolving community made up of entrenched family businesses that are here for the customers and are about customer service,” says Vandenberg. “We are not just about the sale; we are about experiencing a neighborhood.” Mountain Road Marketplace businesses are actively involved in the greater Stowe community. “We sponsor and make donations to a wide variety of local causes, youth programs, North Country Animal League, and families with medical emergencies,” Vandenberg notes. “We care about the community we live in, and with our continuing growth we are able to provide jobs.” “We are a huge draw for people coming to the area and for locals,” adds Baraw. “It’s a special place.” n