Around Middletown in 80 Days: Day 60

Harriet Amanda Chapman

Sisters Harriet and Amanda run their hideaway store filled with objects from Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland with a warmth you will not find at any box store. After being offered a cup of coffee and greeted with a smile, enter in to an amazing collection of Scandanavian crafts, toys and food. You surely will want to start your Christmas shopping here. They have the best collection of non-electronic toys that harken back to a bygone era as well as many charming ornaments to choose from. Stop by to pick up dramatic candles for your holiday table or pickup some Swedish treats to eat. This store is just plain fun to visit.

Harriet Amanda Chapman can be a little difficult to find at 38 Beverly Heights Road. Look for a small sign on Washington Street that sends you up Boston Road. Take the second left onto Beverly Heights. Harriet Amanda Chapman is in the factory building. For more info call 860-347-9022.

Shop Local, Get Global

One of the best things about Middletown is the eccentric nature of its commerce. Perhaps you already know about Harriet Amanda Chapman. If not, you are in for a treat.

The two proprietresses -- sisters Harriet and Amanda -- have lost count of how many decades they've been running their import shop filled with objects from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway & Iceland.

Their store is nearly impossible to find (more on that later) but once you have arrived, you are likely to be greeted with a cup of coffee and the invitation to just holler if you decide you'd like company or need any help. And then you are left to wander through their amazing collection of Scandinavian crafts and toys, all of which put you in the mood for "Christmas in the Northland". I make a yearly pilgrimage to their shop to add a few of their carved ornaments to our tree, and fill my kids stockings with tiny playthings that don't have a tv-show tie-in.

So what do they sell? Tin toys. Painted clogs. A whole wall of red palm-sized Santas. Spinning cut-paper mobiles. Hand-painted glittery greeting cards. Wooden puppets. Glass ornaments. Imported kitchen tools. Swedish treats and jars of Ligonberries. Icelandic sweaters. And "Reserved for Danes" parking signs.




It's like being inside of IKEA's childhood memories.






I've pasted a google map in this post -- but my best advice is to turn down Boston Road from Washington Street, take the second left, and park in front of the factory that looks empty. If you're lucky, Harriet Amanda Chapman's neighbor will have her door open and you can peer inside at artist Robin Price's letterpress studio.


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This post is hopefully the first in a series on what you can buy locally -- please email me with your suggestions and favorite shops at mieyejen@gmail.com. Thanks!