Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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147 The mill is most active Thursday night through Sunday. (The Farm Market is there on Saturdays and Sundays.) Coffee and Cotton Luna Theater Howl Magazine The Farm Market Vinyl Destination Red Antler Apothecary Serpentine Books & Collectibles Derek SooHoo Studios Industry11 Artsylum Art Mongers Sutra Studio Corn & Company more potential. "I'm not very pa- tient," he admits. "It doesn't have to be a long process." It is reasonable to think the ad- dition of "more great things" would speed up the so-far painstakingly slow process of turning the city into a desirable destination. "When you come [to Lowell now]," says Lichou- las, "the experience isn't consistent- ly exceptional. There are pockets of it, but they don't all work together in a coherent way." Therein lies his guiding philosophy: partnering with people who are doing interest- ing things. "It's about deciding to make Lowell a great city. The desire is there, but what does it mean? People have different opinions about that," he notes. Personally, Lichoulas wants to see things that make for a vibrant city—a robust cultural arts scene, fine dining op- portunities, and niche experiences. But he doesn't want Mill No. 5 to be an island unto itself—rather, he wants it woven into the fabric of the greater community. "It's not about making our piece of the pie bigger. It's about making the pie bigger," he says. Even so, his portion of the pie is getting bigger (and better) along the way, despite his modesty. The Farm Market, for example, is a newer addition to the mill. Originally intended to be a winter market to supplement the down- town market during the off-season, it is now a year-round undertaking. Modeled after a market Lichoulas experienced in Ithaca, New York, it's meant to be a social gathering place. Of the Ithaca market, he recalls: "There was music, there was food—there was more than just vegetables." The mill's Farm Market has its own flavor. Though there is an umbrella mission that aligns all the vendors, Lichoulas works to get "the right people" to come in and to put their own "twist" on things. "Things are al- ways percolating," he muses. Building on the very popular Sunday market, he has plans to open a small permanent market— a kind of year-round farm stand featuring milk, eggs, fresh fruits, and local veggies—things that are not readily available in the area. People will shop at the store, and then walk across the hall to Coffee and Cotton to pay. It's that cross- collaboration idea: the café staff serves as sales staff for the market. (Look for Red and White Market to open this spring.) In addition to The Farm Market, The Tune Loft Style This Shindig Root Note Studio Tory German Photography Made in Lowell Kale Yeah Evangeline Interiors Craft and Caro Iron Tree Furnishings Pizzutio Photography Bon Vivant