Farewell to Charms

After today, an iconic downtown business, Concord Hand Designs, will close its doors after 28 years – 26 of them in the Center.

  Come tomorrow, they’ll be gone. But not forgotten. And not really gone, either, if we’re being honest. The fact is, Toni Sawyer and Marie Foley, who most everybody knows as the sisters who filled Concord Hand Designs with products eclectic as their personalities, will close the shop tomorrow, May 15, after 28 years. The past 26 of those have been spent establishing an anchor business in Concord Center and nurturing the kind of deep roots from which a vibrant independent business community could grow and thrive. In that time, Sawyer and Foley have been frequent, colorful participants in fundraisers, holiday shopping nights, town events and informal conversations with customers who’ve become friends. “It’s always kind of been store first, …

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Checkout Time: West Concord Supermarket to Close

The longtime Junction staple--opening for the final time this Saturday, April 6--will shutter after just shy of a century in business.

  After nearly a century, it’s checkout time for Mandrioli family, as brothers Peter and Paul plan to close their West Concord supermarket this weekend. A feisty, "shop local" spirit has taken root in Concord over the past several years, giving rise to a new generation of independent merchants. But even that was not enough of a lifeline for one of the town’s great stalwarts, the beloved West Concord Supermarket, closing April 6 after more than 93 years in business. “It’s been wonderful,” said Paul Mandrioli, whose father and grandfather ran the business before he and his brother took it over. “We wouldn’t have been here all this time if it wasn’t for our customers. The customers have been just amazing, and they’re our friends.” The Past, …

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Get Out

5 Things to Do This Weekend: March 9-11

Appraisals, fashion and Beatles music this weekend in Concord.

It's Thursday, and you've got no idea what you'll do for the weekend. Concord Patch is coming to the rescue. Skinner Appraisal Day at the Concord Museum The Concord Indies Present The Nowheremen in Concert! Concord Players Costume Fashion Show Music of the Woodstock Generation with the Tom Yates Group Hammond Performing Arts Series

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 18

Here's everything you need to know today.

  "Five Things You Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. 1. Today is expected to be breezy with a high of 36˚ according to the National Weather Service. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low of 10˚. 2. Trash and recycling schedules were not altered by the Martin Luther King Day holiday, so remember to have your garbage and recyclables out to the curb by 7 a.m. on your regularly scheduled day. 3. The Natural Resources Commission is meeting today at 7 p.m.; the White Pond Advisory Committee is meeting at 7:30 p.m. 4. Are you overwhelmed by the world of social media today? Help get your small business noticed in an always on-the-go world. The Concord Indies will be hosting…

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The Week in Review

Week in Review: Hanukkah Begins, Relief Effort in Kenya, and Tracking Santa

A look back at this week on Concord Patch.

  Last minute shopping; preparing holiday dinners; getting ready to travel — it's a bustling time of year. Here's a look back at the past week on Concord Patch. Last weekend, we put out reminders to our readers to get suggestions in for the teacher of the year and athlete/team of the year. Add your choices now, and we'll feature all of the responses this week. On Monday, we featured another handful of gift ideas from the Concord Indies — this time, for that person who already has everything. We also asked readers to weigh in on a poll about holiday spending. On Tuesday, Stefanie Cloutier told us about the start of Hanukkah, which began this year at sundown on Dec. 20. The Board of Selectmen voted last week to dissolve the West Concord Task…

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About Town

Welcome to the End of the Year

A new moon and happy holidays.

  Welcome to Friday, the last day of public school — and for many of you, work, public and private — for 2011. The holiday season is in full swing and I hope you all have a wonderful one. Early risers yesterday were greeted with the final slivers of the Dec. 10 full moon lighting up the East sky. New moon rising Christmas Eve. Many, many thanks to Alice and Bill Lehmann for the scrumptious — and I do mean scrumptious — chocolate croissant, hot and fresh from La Provence. If only I could share how delicious the melted French chocolate tastes against the warm pastry. Yum. Product Diversity Today I wrap up the Concord Indies Top 10 reasons for shopping locally. The Concord Indies represent our local, independent retailers. As I have said many…

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About Town

Ahead to the Past

Winter Solstice and Fresh Produce

Good morning and welcome to not only Wednesday, but the first full day of Hanukkah (it began last night at sundown) and the shortest day of the year. As they do with every solstice, the kind folks at Emerson Umbrella are hosting a celebration. I participated in the winter solstice celebration last year and it was one of my most memorable and enjoyable events, and I hope to be there again tonight. Attendance and participation are free and super family friendly. Better yet, you’ll all be back home in less than two hours – it being a school night and all.   Children and adults join a singalong, chant and dance around a bonfire blazing before the riverbank. Last year, we had snow on the ground, which added a special touch to welcoming winter. …

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About Town

Shift Your Shopping

Are you saving those receipts?

Good morning and welcome to Wednesday, which is six days away from the start of Hanukkah and 10 days from Christmas Eve. In other words, are you ready for the holidays? Wherever you stand, you know the Concord Indies have your back. The Concord Indies represent the many independent retailers in Concord. To encourage local shopping, the Indies have organized a contest, “Shift Your Shopping: Choose Concord Indies 1st,” where one lucky local shopper could win a $200 shopping spree among our many fine local merchants. All you need to enter are three receipts for purchases made between Nov. 19 and Dec. 24 at a participating Indies (click here for list). Your receipts must represent at least three of the four shopping districts in town. The …

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Did You Find Any Treasures Last Night?

Tell us about your finds in the comment section below.

  Hot chocolate and cider, cookies and hors d'oeuvres, strolling carolers, and of course, shopping. Last evening was Concord's Holiday Shopping Night featuring sales and specials at dozens of local businesses. While we've been offering up some suggestions on great gifts for the people in your lives with the help of the Concord Indies, we want to hear about the treasures you've found on your own. Did you go shopping downtown last night? Tell us about the gifts you picked up — you don't have to spoil any surprises, but tell us about your experiences browsing through Concord's many shops. Did you visit any establishments you had never been to before? Tell us all about your holiday shopping treasures in the comment section below.

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