Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

0 sec ago

Arts and crafts general store, Nash & Co., set to open in Portland

Photo / Courtesy Nash & Co. Nash & Co.is located at 417 Congress St, in Portland.
By Alexis Wells

A New York couple will open a creative general store in the Old Port on Saturday, selling work by local artists, homemade goods and hosting workshops for customers keen to flex their own creative muscles. 

Jaime and Kate Nash, founders of Nash & Co., leased the 1,800-square-foot space at 417 Congress St.

"This has been a dream of ours for over a decade. Maine had always been calling us," said Jaime. "Kate’s family has roots here that go back decades, and we’ve spent countless summers at the family camp on Moosehead Lake. We’ve always loved the pace of this place, the mix of grit and warmth, the feeling that people here still care about how things are made."

Jaime told Mainebiz that he has been creating his whole life — starting with crafts alongside his mom. After 15 years as a creative director in New York, the glamour faded into burnout. He said he watched creativity turn into efficiency as AI and automation took over. He lost his job and decided it was finally time to start fresh.

His wife knows that grind, too — from high-pressure Manhattan restaurants to leading creative projects.

"We hope to become a foundational role in the arts community here," said Jaime. "We live just a few blocks away, so Portland isn’t just where we work; it’s where we walk, eat, talk to neighbors, and raise our daughter. When we unlock the door each morning, we’re not just opening a shop; we’re opening a part of our life to the community that made it possible. That’s what makes this place special. It’s not backed by investors or built to scale. It’s built to belong."

Renovations

The opening on Saturday is the first of many phases, Jaime said.

The second phase is to continue building out for a third space for artists and creatives, with a full bar built that serves creativity, not booze. Behind the bar will be filled with stationery and art supplies, with the hope that artists will meet, spark new creative ideas and connect with other creative-minded people through conversation.

They plan to complete this by spring 2026. The third phase is completely renovating the basement into a community art studio where local artists can keep lockers and use the space to create and teach. 

The ground floor will be used as a retail space.

What’s in store 

The store will sell works by other emerging artists and makers and host weekly creative workshops.

The retail side will also have gifts and craft supplies, stationery and art prints. The service side, for local artists and classes, will include specialty printing, embroidery, a laser studio, printmaking and print design.

Sign up for Enews

Mainebiz web partners

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF