Somehow, in the past couple of months, it seems that the corner of School Street and Union/Beach Street in Manchester has at long last woken up from its seemingly eternal slumber.
Lavender & Moss moved from its space next to the Laughing Gull on Summer Street and has settled into new renovated space at 2 School St. The spot had been the home of Logue Insurance (now located just a couple doors down at 19 Central St.), and it’s now as enchanting as ever with Lavender & Moss’s floral wonders and delightful assortment of gifts. Next door, Oliva Enoteca has also arrived, taking over the thoughtfully curated wine legacy of Helen’s Bottle Shop. It’s been a stretch of turnover, moving, upgrading, and reopening in this end of town.
Much of this sense of coming to life, however, can be credited to the arrival of something entirely new—at least new to Manchester—in The Copper Shed. Its opening shifted the balance, and the corner has since become an eye-catching and pleasantly lively shopping destination.
Crazily, I “visited” the very first incarnation of The Copper Shed quite by mistake and most definitely while trespassing. A friend had on a heavenly blouse that I was hoping to find for myself. She had told me it came from a shop called The Copper Shed … located in Wenham. It seems that my GPS at the time found, not the lovely boutique on Main Street in Wenham, where it still exists, but rather the actual copper shed on the property of owner Cai-Cai Fritzinger.
After boldly getting out of my car and poking around her shed (which was incidentally filled with fantastic merchandise), I realized I was quite out of place and texted my friend and rerouted.
Cai-Cai Fritzinger’s path to retail was a natural extension of a long-held creative impulse. “Establishing my own boutique has always been a dream of mine, driven by my love of fashion and design,” she explains.
After spending several years in London with her family and returning home to design their forever house, her creative spirit was reignited. A collaboration with British designer Susan Deliss deepened her appreciation for color and pattern, and inspired her to sell Deliss’s fabrics and pillows from a small shed (see above) —complete with a copper roof—on her property once the project wrapped up. From there came a partnership with her favorite London shoe and boot brand, Penelope Chilvers, followed by the addition of more brands. The Copper Shed was born.
During my visit to the new Manchester shop, Fritzinger explained that while The Copper Shed is a destination for clothing, housewares, and all manner of beautiful things, it also functions as something of a home-design showroom. The sconces, pendant lights, mirrors, furniture—nearly everything you see is for sale, and much of it can be ordered in different finishes, sizes, or configurations depending on a customer’s needs. She laughingly refers to the concept as a “poor man’s designer,” though the results feel anything but.
Notably—and refreshingly—The Copper Shed also gives real attention to men, which is a relatively weak retail muscle locally. The men’s clothing and accessories, including excellent weekend bags and a particularly pleasing selection of neckties, feel thoughtful and well-judged, striking just the right note for the Manchester crowd.
So yes, life is happening at this intersection in downtown Manchester. And to this end, The Copper Shed feels less like a new shop and more like a natural next chapter for the corner itself. Take a peek!
The Copper Shed
1 School St., Manchester
(978) 949-7041
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