Tea Time: New Store to Open in Northport

The windows of 80 Main Street, empty since the Artisan House moved three doors down to 72 Main Street several months ago, were papered over recently and a sign was posted on the front windows that read, "Coming soon: Clipper Ship Tea Company" and "Premium loose-leaf teas and teaware."

Owner Melissa Wawrzonek confirmed at a meeting of the Northport Village Architectural Historic Review Board Thursday that she is indeed opening a tea store and said that she is hoping to restore the interior back to the way it was in 1915. 

"It was formerly a commercial hotel," she told the board, adding that workers have been scraping the facade to get down to the copper window frame, which had been covered up by previous tenants, as well as restoring the early 1900s corrugated smoke-colored glass, tin ceilings, a transom window above the door and woodwork. "I am doing everything I can to make it better."

While interior alterations have been proceeding, Wawrzonek obtained unanimous approval of an exterior sign from the board. The sign will be 10-inch navy blue letters that spell out Clipper Ship Tea Company.

The board requested she use a blue closer to that used by the owners of Petport, at 144 Main Street, than one Wawrzonek had proposed for both the signage letters as well as the exterior door and facade She agreed. She will also install three blue gooseneck lights similar to those on the Ship's Inn, at 78 Main Street, right next door.