Worcester County Wonders: Crompton Collective keeps the Canal District flowing
WORCESTER — Picture this: It's 1828 and the Blackstone Canal has just opened, connecting Worcester to Providence, Rhode Island.
John Quincy Adams is in the Oval Office, the Democratic Party has just been established and the future appears bright. And for the next two decades it was. The canal flowed, transporting people and goods between the two cities, creating the foundation for what is known today as the Canal District.
In the late 1800s the canals were covered over. Today, instead of water flowing, the neighborhood flows with lively events, bars, restaurants, clubs and, of course, unique shopping.
One of those shopping destinations, Crompton Collective, just earned itself the title of best market to visit in Massachusetts, according to Merchant Machine. It is one of the best places to find unique antiques, local artists' work and other knickknacks.
The British-based company "analyzed publicly available review data from Tripadvisor and ranked listings tagged 'farmers market' or 'street and flea market' by their percentage of five-star reviews."
Crompton Collective sits at number 14 out of 20 on the list of the highest-rated tourist markets in the United States. The data found that more than 84% of visitors give the collective five stars. The only other New England-based market to make the list was Jess's Market in Rockland, Maine.
Created in 2012 by Worcester resident Amy Lynn Chase, the collective slowly began to take shape inside the building on Green Street. Chase also founded the Canal District Farmers Market and continues to run the collective, as well as Haberdash, a small fashion boutique on the ground floor.
Wandering through some 9,000 square feet of the Crompton Place building, visitors are met with a plethora of oddities, vintage items and handmade products from local vendors. Roughly 70 vendors operate out of the space, while a waitlist for new businesses continues to grow.
"If you're looking for a hidden gem in Worcester, you've found it," a woman buying a small vintage trinket said with a smile. A mother and daughter perused the endless shelves, before finding a Taylor Swift-themed greeting card that the young girl gushed over as they left. Another shopper placed a large glass eggplant and a set of vintage skis at the cash register before venturing back into the space to find more treasure.
Angela manages the collective and has been working with the business for nine years now. She said her favorite thing about her job is all the wonderful local artists and vendors she works alongside every day.
"We have regular customers, and they always find new things. Sometimes they bring whatever they've found to the register, and I have to ask, 'Where did you find this?!' There is just so much here. But the most popular item has got to be our grab bags," she said. "They go extremely fast. The bags are sold by The Cozy Nook and are just full of all these little trinkets and people love them."
From $5 grab bags to a $3,500 set of vintage doors from a Tibetan monastery, there is something for everyone hidden in the shelving, sneaky corners and nooks, Angela explains as she pulls out a photograph of former President Bill Clinton shaking hands with Chase. He visited Crompton Collective in 2016 on behalf of the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, former first lady and secretary of state. The event took place in The White Room, a popular events venue for weddings, political gatherings and pop-up art gallery events.
Back on the ground floor, shoppers are welcome to step inside Bedlam Books, Seed to Stem Lifestyle & Plant Boutique, and Haberdash, each offering a unique shopping experience.
The smell of fresh tea and coffee mixed with fresh paper waft through the doors of Bedlam Books. In 2018, the "next generation of bookstores" opened its doors to the public, becoming a "hub of social and intellectual energy," selling new and used books.
Across the hallway, Seed to Stem Lifestyle & Plant Boutique first appears more like a greenhouse than anything else, but step inside and beautifully displayed within the seemingly infinite plants and taxidermized animals are delicate treasures.
The shop itself seems to embody its wares. Strange botanicals sit next to natural wonders, with various home décor, crystals and items strewn throughout.
A grandmother pushes her grandchild through the store, stopping periodically as the youngster spots a taxidermized bear or wolf. Small giggles echo through the space, the wonderment absolutely contagious.
T&G engagement editor Sarah Barnacle is getting to know Central Mass. by exploring some of the best places to go and things to do in Worcester County. If you have an idea or suggestion, please email sbarnacle@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Crompton Collective keeps the Canal District flowing
