Homeport, the kitchen, housewares and eclectic gift store on the Church Street Marketplace in downtown Burlington, will open a second store this summer in Essex, co-owner Mark Bouchett confirmed on Thursday. The new store will be located in the Essex Experience, which in recent years transformed from a struggling outlet mall of national chain stores into a vibrant collection of locally owned shops, salons and eateries.
The second Homeport will occupy the 6,000-square-foot storefront that previously housed a satellite location of Outdoor Gear Exchange, which closed in February 2025 after just 14 months. (The outdoor retailer remains open on Burlington’s Church Street.) Bouchett, who signed a five-year lease this week, said he’s been looking to expand for some time now and found the Essex Experience to be a perfect fit, with a similar vibe to the Church Street Marketplace and an emphasis on local, independent ownership.
“We really like what Peter’s been doing out at the Experience,” he said, referring to owner Peter Edelmann. “Our focus has always been on the customer experience: coming in; having a good time; seeing weird, cool, new stuff; [and] having a staff that’s glad you showed up and makes you feel welcome.”
In contrast to the bazaar-like Burlington store, which occupies 14,000 square feet spread across four floors, the Essex store will be on one level, which will make staffing and customer access easier. The Essex store will mostly sell kitchen goods and housewares.
“However, we know it’s important to folks that we bring all of what makes Homeport fun to this new place, as well,” Bouchett added. “We’re gonna make sure we bring the greatest hits from the rest of the other floors.”
Edelmann said customers have been asking for a store that sells housewares ever since Kitchen Collection closed in 2019. The Essex Experience has had a growing emphasis on food and beverages: Its businesses include more than half a dozen restaurants and cafés, as well as a brewery and distillery, a cidery, and a coffee roaster. Additionally, the nearby Essex Resort & Spa, which Edelmann also owns, has two restaurants and offers cooking classes.
“Homeport really fits into our whole culinary thing,” he said.
Bouchett, who owns Homeport with his parents and recently brought in his son, Francois, as a business partner, noted that the Burlington store will remain open. After a very successful holiday season, and with a new hotel and two large, newly opened residential buildings just across the street at Burlington Square, he thinks the Marketplace has finally turned a corner. Previously, some Burlington businesses have pointed to downtown public safety problems as a factor in declining customer foot traffic. When Church Street retailer Dear Lucy announced its closure at the end of January, owner Melissa Desautels cited a two-year downward spiral in sales.
“I know we’ve gone through some hard times and, much to my horror, have lost some great local retailers,” Bouchett said, “but we feel like it’s a great time to be downtown. For the first time in five years, we’re super hopeful for the future.”
Bouchett expects to have a soft opening of the Essex store in July and a grand opening in August, which would coincide with the flagship store’s 20th anniversary of transitioning from Pier 1 to Homeport.
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