Montecito Mercantile Opens

By Kelly Mahan Herrick | July 15, 2021

Two months after the closure of Read N’ Post in the Montecito Country Mart, the shopping center’s newest store, Montecito Mercantile, has opened, a sister store to owner Carrie Schei’s beloved Salt House Mercantile on Bainbridge Island.

Montecito Mercantile is now open at Montecito Country Mart, featuring clothing, housewares, apothecary, and gifts, with a preppy, East Coast style

The shop, which is managed and overseen by longtime retailer and merchandiser Kelly Finefrock, has been transformed to feel like a home, with distinct areas for home décor, clothing, kitchen products, and apothecary.

“It’s a great addition to the Mart, a sort of classic general store with a modern, Montecito twist,” said Mart rep Kristin Teufel, who oversaw the opening of the store and manages the U.S. Post Office, which is located within the Mercantile.

The store features a careful curation of brands including Parker Thatch (totes and bags), La Ligne (sweaters, cashmere), Kule (classic tees, sweaters, socks), Amanda Lindroth (wicker wrapped glasses, pitchers, hurricanes), Bamford (luxury beauty products), January Labs (skincare), Heather Taylor Home (gingham pillows, blankets, napkins), Harris Reed (candles), Maxwell and Geraldine (dresses), Peter Beaton (hats), and several others which give the store a preppy, East Coast aesthetic and feeling. The shop also offers various artisanal food and drink products, including T.W. Hollister vermouth.

An installation of summer-themed photography hangs prominently on the store’s wall, by photographer Dewey Nicks, who was present for the store’s soft opening last week.

Schei, a Seattle native, opened Salt House Mercantile in 2014, and since then the gift store has been widely coveted by Pacific Northwest locals and tourists, and has been featured in many publications. After moving to Montecito, Schei decided to open a similar store here, with the help of Finefrock, a fixture in luxury Montecito retail, having worked at Hudson Grace as well as the Miramar Resort’s James Perse location.

The Mercantile also offers a small collection of magazines, stationery, and wrapping paper, as a nod to the beloved Read N’ Post that was in business in Montecito for nearly 40 years before closing in April. The full service post office within the Mercantile offers stamp sales, registered mail, and express mail.

Montecito Mercantile is open Monday through Saturday 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm. Visit www.montecitomercantile.com for more information.