Reuse, Recycle and Repair

Reuse, Recycle and Repair

Small Businesses that keep us afloat

By: Carolyn Grodinsky, Event and Marketing Coordinator at Montpelier Alive

When I first moved to Montpelier 30 years ago, I repaired my shoes at the Cobbler's Leather Shoppe, at 67 Main Street, where Splash is currently located.  When the store closed a few years later, I remember the owner, Charlie Baril, telling me no one repairs shoes anymore. I was disheartened, but in researching this blog, I learned many downtown businesses still repair and refurbish. With only one landfill in Vermont, and all the benefits of keeping items in circulation as long as possible, Montpelier Alive wanted to feature these diverse shops in town, helping us to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!

For starters, I posted a request for reuse businesses on Front Porch Forum. I received many replies and many more recommendations than I expected. Ranging from buying used bikes and computers, repairing broken zippers and jewelry, finding unique vintage and consignment clothing, and retrofitting/reusing existing windows, I learned there are still plenty of opportunities. Some stores have a sole focus on reuse and repair, others sold both new and used, for example, Althea’s attic, Bear Pond Books, and Play it Again Sam. As for a shoe repair shop, we luckily have Boisvert's Shoe Repair in Barre!

Below is a list of downtown stores that repair, refurbish and sell used items in Montpelier. 

Antiques:

• J Langdon - 7 Langdon Street

Books

• Bear Pond books - 77 Main Street

• Book Garden - 50 State Street

Clothing repair

• Jumping Raindrops Sewing and Design - sewing repair, custom fitting on Elm Street

Clothing – Donation and Consignment

• Get up Vintage - 9 Langdon Street

• Heathers Nearly New - 62 River Street

• Trinity Church thrift store - located in basement of Trinity Church 137 Main Street, Saturdays only 10:00 - 12:00 pm

Jewelry Repair

Katie’s Jewels - 6 State Street

Music

• Guitar Sam repairs and provides maintenance service on musical gear, Main St.

• Book Spieler Records - record store (used and new), Langdon St.

Technical repair/electronics, cell phone

• MobiTech - 13 Main Street, mobile device and computer repair service

• North Branch Tech - 2 Spring Street, computer repair (note new location)

Used Bikes/repair:

• FreeRide - a volunteer run community bike shop selling used bikes and helping people to repair their bikes, Barre St.

• Onion River Outdoors - Annual bike swap, Langdon St.

• Onion River Outdoors and Slopestyle Ski and Ride for bike repair, River St.

Window refurbishment:

• Open Sash -  specializes in energy efficiency, weatherization, and restoration of old windows, E. Montpelier

Please let us know if we missed any Montpelier businesses by emailing [email protected]