Menemsha Bakery Stirs Debate About Chain Stores

Katrina Liu Wednesday, July 3 2024 - 1:10pm

A plan to open an Iggy's Bread location at the former Bite location in Chilmark raised concerns about changes in the fishing village Tuesday.

An off-Island bakery’s application to open a location in Menemsha raised concerns about changes in the fishing village.

The Chilmark select board voted Tuesday to allow Cambridge-based bakery Iggy’s Bread to begin selling coffee and pastries at the former location of The Bite, a restaurant that closed its doors in 2017. Iggy’s previously said it would sell pastries and breads baked on the mainland, similar to its outpost in Edgartown.

During the public hearing, a major worry was preservation of community character.

“I’m a big fan of croissants, but I’m also very cognizant of the changes that have happened in the town of Chilmark,” select board chair James Malkin said during his opening remarks at the public hearing.

Molly Glasgow, co-owner of The Grey Barn and Farm, was against the proposal, citing her concerns of a chain bakery coming to the town.

“Where do we draw the line as a community?” Ms. Glasgow said. “It’s a beautiful, wonderful place. I love it here and it hurts my heart to think that we would allow a chain organization to come into our community.”

She added that bringing in workers from off-Island was another concern for her.

“The people they will be bringing in, as far as I understand, are not from here,” she said. “They’ll be traveling from Boston every day. There’s just a lot of footprint. I’m very emotional about this. I’m very upset that the people in this room are okay with this.”

Sarah Nixon, co-owner of the former Bite building, explained that finding a business to fill the space has been difficult, and showed her support for the bakery.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Iggy’s,” Ms. Nixon said. “I think it’ll be a beautiful addition to our harbor...and I’m so happy to have something down the hill, just as a neighbor.”

Select board member Marie Larsen, along with other members of the public, also expressed positive sentiments about having the building finally filled.

“If they’ve jumped through all the hoops and we’re going to have something in a spot that’s been vacant...I don’t want to see an empty store,” Ms. Larsen said.

When the board voted unanimously to approve the common victualler license, Ms. Glasgow shouted an expletive at the board and left the meeting.

Ms. Glasgow later apologized for her comments in a letter to the select board.

“I used foul language towards members of our Select Board and I know my words caused harm to others feelings,” she wrote. “For this I apologize. I genuinely regret and take full responsibility for my actions. I admit that I became overrun with emotion around the subject of chain stores coming to our Island.”

Iggy’s manager Nick Zappia told the board that the store would abide by all agreed-upon parameters, including opening hours and products being sold and hoped to open as soon as possible.

“We have no intention of coloring outside of the lines,” Mr. Zappia said. “We’re happy to be in this community. We’re excited to do the right thing.”

Comments

Give it a break,it's a bread

Charlie Callahan So Boston Edgartown

Give it a break,it's a bread store not a McDonalds and even if it was who cares.The island lost it's so called charm 40 years ago when they started allowing ugly monstrosity houses.And some of the biggest cry babies I know made millions building these eyesores and a lot of them are from Menemsha ,but now they want their quaint little island back now that they have their piece of the pie.The island is getting like old Revere beach used to be.I don't mind cause I hung there before I moved here.

No, allowing McDonalds would

Pat Tisbury

No, allowing McDonalds would be a huge mistake. In general excluding the worst chains has been very smart planning. But I take your point about changes. We who remember the island from over 40 years ago now feel like the people back then who remembered the island from before the war.

Iggy’s breads have been

Valerie Chilmark

Iggy’s breads have been available for the last two years through North Tabor Farm. Yes they bake off-Island but they rent and provide seasonal on-Island jobs-
Menemsha is lucky to have a coffee and fresh breads shack. Maybe one day the Menemsha Market will be reborn , in the meantime those of us in this neck of the woods are thrilled to welcome Iggy’s .

Ms. Glasgow, nobody is going

I lLike Croissants. Edgartown

Ms. Glasgow, nobody is going to commute from Boston to Menemsha to go to work. It's a 6 hour round trip and it costs around $100 per day.

And then you still have to get from the boat to Menemsha.

This is not a chain….its a

Mike B Upisland

This is not a chain….its a bakery that distributes its products to stores/restaurants throughout the greater Boston area. They make excellent baked products. It’s also run by good community oriented people. They had a successful pop up at Texaco so decided to rent a long vacant building in Menemsha to serve baked goods and coffee….who does not want this? Grey Barn makes great cheese and we are lucky to have them on the island as well. Complaining about a competitor opening nearby and cursing at the local government body is simply a bad look for Molly….she seems to know this.

The Grey Barn and Farm, was

Jim Chilmark

The Grey Barn and Farm, was against the proposal, citing her concerns of a chain bakery coming to the town.
Give me a break! I welcome Iggys to Menemsha this is great news and love pastries!!

Bravo for the opportunity for

George Stein OB

Bravo for the opportunity for a quality investment to move forward . Integrity of the community has long been the punch line to a bad joke in Menemsha. Beer and wine licenses proved to be a quality resource In Vineyard Haven. Proven to help local hospitality firms acquire a better competitive edge. Why not Menemsha? A seasonal bakery ruins anything ? The big picture is being held hostage for too long.

Iggy's Bread grosses 20

Patricia Bacon Chilmark

Iggy's Bread grosses 20 million dollars a year and has over 100 employees in several locations. The issue is that the select board in Chilmark shuts down everything that threatens the character of the town, yet they let a large corporation have a 3 yr lease without hesitation. I believe if this was left to Chilmark voters it would not have passed. Somehow dinners on local farms are not okay, but this is.....it doesn't make sense.

Texaco has over 10,000

Jon Wells West Tisbury

Texaco has over 10,000 employees and grosses over 3 billion dollars a year. They have a franchise right down the street from where Iggy's is going in.

So, by your reasoning they

Dana Nunes MV

So, by your reasoning they should not be allowed because they’re successful and employ many people? No one local stepped up in the 4-5 years that the building was vacant. No one. Would you prefer that it remain vacant? Because that empty storefront look really did enhance the look of Menemsha, along with the old market. I think if it had been left to the Chilmark voters, Iggy’s would’ve been a shoo-in. They’re not all elitists. Sometimes a bakery is just a bakery.

“Sometimes a bakery is just a

TJ Hanson West Tisbury

“Sometimes a bakery is just a bakery”. Love it.

That is not accurate.

Chrissy Kinsman West Tisbury

That is not accurate. Several people have come forward. This is really my only issue with this story--I myself have inquired in 2019 and in 2022 and I know of another island business that also has. I think Iggy's is going to do very well there and Menemsha will be more delicious as a result. But stating that others who own businesses haven't inquired is inaccurate. For what it's worth--I'm glad a woman somewhere in this country stood up and vocally expressed a strong opinion about something. All the hubbub is a lot of noise. It was an unfortunate incident and hurrah! people still have passion for their homes and way of life and have the confidence to speak up. Yay to flourishing delicious baking businesses who are doing well and expanding. Looking forward to eating a croissant myself, now that I no longer bake them. If farms are unable to earn income by hosting farm dinners in that town I can see how that might rustle a few feathers. Small town politics are nuanced. The current politic climate online is clearly not. Let's all keep talking with each other. Please & thank you.

Thank you for providing a

Chrissy Kinsman West Tisbury

Thank you for providing a well-articulated dissenting opinion.

the Bite was grandfathered,

Rebecca Chilmark

the Bite was grandfathered, but I don't believe you could get permits to do the same thing there again. Bringing in food baked elsewhere makes sense in that fragile location.

Throwing this out there for

RJ OB

Throwing this out there for the peeps not exactly thrilled with the decision: Iggy’s donated A LOT of baked goods to the Island Food Pantry. And man, were those breads and pastries good! Thanks for giving back Iggy’s! Best of luck at the new location.

The issue is not Iggy's, it

West Tiz Farmer WT

The issue is not Iggy's, it is Chilmark allowing a large off Island company that is indeed a franchise into Menemsha. If it were a lululemon pop up everyone would be against it!

true! I still cannot believe

Amy Edgartown

true! I still cannot believe there is a LuLu here. Cringey. Originally I didn't think much of this Iggy's situation, but your comment gave me pause. Perhaps this was a poor decision after all. Edgartown seemed to slip the Iggy's on Summer Street in under the guise of it being a 'popup". But now with 2 MV locations, this does seem a bit shady. However, Island food/ farm companies haven't stepped up to the plate with offers to utilize the empty Chilmark spot for many years- so some blame lies there as well, no?

Amy, here is a very

Jon Wells West Tisbury

Amy, here is a very incomplete list of chains and franchises that are on the Island. I fail to see how a small bakery causes any harm.

Ace Hardware
True Value Hardware
Texaco (multiple locations)
Shell (multiple locations)
Mobil
Xtra-Mart
Cumberland Farms
Starbucks
Lulu Lemon
Marine Homecenter
West Marine
Terminex
Grigs and Brown
Stop and Shop (2 locations)
Stop and Shop Pharmacy
The Black Dog
Dairy Queen
Murdicks Fudge
Vineyard Vines
Southby's Realty
Rockland Trust Bank
Santander Bank
Hertz
Mahoneys
Napa
Budget
Avis
Phillips 66
Bangkok Cuisine
YMCA
CrossfitMV
Hosteling International
Crane Appliance
Sea Bags
Summer Shades
UPS Store
Starkweather and Sheply

The former location of The Bite will now host Iggy's Bread. The building has been vacant since The Bite closed in 2017.

Menemsha Bakery Stirs Debate About Chain Stores

Comments

Give it a break,it's a bread

No, allowing McDonalds would

Iggy’s breads have been

Ms. Glasgow, nobody is going

This is not a chain….its a

The Grey Barn and Farm, was

Bravo for the opportunity for

Iggy's Bread grosses 20

Texaco has over 10,000

So, by your reasoning they

“Sometimes a bakery is just a

That is not accurate.

Thank you for providing a

the Bite was grandfathered,

Throwing this out there for

The issue is not Iggy's, it

true! I still cannot believe

Amy, here is a very

Faherty and Marine Layer in

It's possible you're confused

Iggy's is not a franchise.

I'm not sure why not wanting

Those bumper stickers are

Buy local? The space has been

For gosh sakes, does no-one

Oh, but Fine Fettle, a large

Isn't Lily Pulitzer a

There are dozens of

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