End-of-Summer Celebration Planned in August
A new artisan market, The Port, now occupies the former Biercamp building in Downtown Ludington, and its owners couldn’t be happier. They’re planning a ribbon-cutting at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 30, followed by behind-the-scenes tours from 8-9 a.m.
At 9 a.m., the market will officially open at 222 West Ludington Avenue, and shoppers will be able to peruse a number of fantastic items, including locally made candles, baked goods, art and more from five different businesses.
House & Harbor owners, Stacie and her husband Nolan, will donate a portion of all sales at this new location to anti-human trafficking efforts, which is the central mission of this local business venture. The idea behind the business won the couple $5,000 in seed money at the Momentum 5×5 Business Pitch Competition in 2021.
Specializing in beautifully scented soy-wax candles, House & Harbor was begun in 2020, when the couple began selling their products at HumaniTea, whose owners share their vision and mission. The natural-product candle company has been expanded to boast a number of collections, including a line named after Mason County lakes (sold at Cottage Works), as well as a current spring collection that features lilac & lemon, peach tree, kitchen herbs, and citrus & cedar. For every candle sold locally or online, $1 is donated to anti-human trafficking endeavors.
At The Port, House & Harbor will offer drop-in workshops, where customers can learn to make their own artisan candles. Private and community classes, artisan gifts, and home decor will be on hand. House & Harbor will additionally be expanding manufacturing and offering tours.
“It’s such an incredible opportunity, and we are so thrilled,” Stacie said of the move to downtown Ludington. “We’ve been so encouraged by everyone’s response to the vision we have for this space. We love that we not only get an opportunity to grow our business, but that we can come alongside multiple other businesses, collaborate, and grow together.
“We know that this will be a space that our community can enjoy coming to – whether to grab a quick meal to take to the beach, to sit all day and work, or to enjoy an experience as a family. We’re really excited to be part of the downtown experience.”
Partners at The Port
After a few modifications to the former grocery store building, other businesses located at the new site are offering workshops and experiences, and pop-up shops represent those who have local home-based businesses.
- Britter’s Twisted Whisk: This will be Brittany Septrion’s first retail location for her bakery business. She will be baking onsite and offering a wonderful selection of freshly made specialty desserts. In addition, she will continue to offer custom orders for events.
- HumaniTea: This local tea shop will be moving from its James Street location to The Port. The team of Carmen Biggs and Chris Turnbull will continue to offer the same great teas, specialty drinks, baked goods, and artisan gift shop that exists to support anti-human trafficking efforts.
- Cluck Bucket: This will be a second location for the Ludington food-truck business. Owner Shari Eaton will be offering a wonderful menu selection, including the famous chicken and pit-tatoes, sandwiches, salads, and grab-and-go meals for those heading to the beach.
- Faire Heart: Formerly Inspired Parties, this company will be offering fun drop-in art & craft projects for all ages. Owner Sarah Stechschulte will also have art kits for sale, as well as local artisan goods.
In addition to the boutiques and eateries, The Port will also have a space for weekly artisan vendors, community events, and more. The Cockes hope to expand the space next summer to include an outdoor experience with multiple vendors.
The Port will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Individual business hours may vary and can be found at theportludington.com.
Mark your calendars for The Port’s End-of-Summer Celebration, August 26-28. There will be live entertainment, specials and giveaways throughout the weekend.
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About House & Harbor’s Anti-Human Trafficking/Victim Support:
In 2020 after only six months of business, House & Harbor was able to donate $1,000 to Human Trafficking Prevention and Victim Support Fund, set up through the Community Foundation for Mason County. In 2021, the business donated $3,000. The Cockes anticipate a huge increase in that amount this year with the addition of the new retail space and increasing online wholesale and retail sales.
“Our mission is to give to causes that directly impact foster children and their biological families,” Stacie Cocke said. “Anti-human trafficking is just one of the many causes we plan to support. As we grow, we want to invest in organizations that mentor and support children aging out of the foster care system, domestic violence prevention and victim support, education scholarships, and offer flexible employment opportunities for those who are fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking situations.”
Follow the Port on Facebook and Instagram @theportludington.