A new owner has taken over the former Salvatore & Roscia market in downtown Belfast, renaming the shop Carousel Wine & Cheese.
That name is meant to evoke the rotating selection of cheeses, wines and other specialty foods and home goods that can be purchased at the business at 94 Main St., according to the new owner, Lauren Crichton.
Salvatore & Roscia announced on Dec. 31 that the shop would be changing hands, and Crichton reopened it on Jan. 10 under the new name.
In an interview, Crichton said she always wanted to own her own business and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take over the Belfast storefront, which is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
“It’s been great. People have been so sweet. It’s been pretty steady,” said Crichton. “A lot of people have been coming in to say ‘hi’ and meet me, but plenty of people are stocking up on cheese and wine too.”
Crichton has plenty of experience in the industry. She has lived in the Belfast area for the past 15 years and previously spent five years working for The Lost Kitchen, a famous farm-to-plate restaurant in nearby Freedom. She had various roles there, including operations manager, buyer for the shop and aid in the wine cellar.
“Buying and running the retail shop at The Lost Kitchen was so much fun, and so many of the things that I got to do there, I get to do more of it here now, but add my own spin to things,” Crichton said. “I’m excited to bring some of my own style into the things that I choose here.”
Crichton also worked at Easterly Wine, a fine wine wholesaler, for several years. Based on all that experience, Crichton said one of her greatest joys is giving advice to customers about which wines pair best with food.
“That’s what I really like about shopping in small stores like this: going in and finding something new,” she added.
Crichton also has a background in art and design, after obtaining a degree in metalsmithing from Massachusetts College of Art & Design.
As a new business owner, Crichton has inherited the previous owner’s displays and furniture, as well as connections to the previous suppliers. She continues to get twice-a-week deliveries from Demetra Bread in Appleton: baguettes on Tuesdays and focaccia on Fridays.
So far, cheese has been her best-selling item.
“Cheese is the portion of the business that I have the most to learn about, I think, and this community has more knowledge than me,” Crichton said. “People come in and like to have things that they really love.”
Eventually, Crichton would also like to offer wine tastings and other events.
