While the weather here is still iffy – very typical for springtime on Martha’s Vineyard – signs of life are starting to bloom as we stroll through our island villages. Yes, the buzz of spring is in the air. The local bars and restaurants have their “help wanted” signs in the windows. We are seeing a resurgence of our summer residents, popping over for the weekend to open their cottages – repainting trim, tidying up their yards and getting lawn furniture out of storage for the warmer weather that lies ahead. In Vineyard Haven, our crew at The Tavern is readying it for the busy season, with brand new window screens and freshly planted pansies filling its window boxes. The scene repeats in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, where shopkeepers are cleaning up their storefronts and getting the streets ready for the deluge of visitors arriving in its not-so-distant future.
We love this time of year. While the winter is quiet and peaceful – and in our opinion an experience everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy at least once – we are invigorated by the renewed energy that spring brings. We have a lot to look forward to – from new store openings and completed renovations, to philanthropic endeavors, to big collaborations. We are energized by all these happenings.
If You Build It...
Spring is going to be a very busy time on the brick-and-mortar front. We are opening another Black Dog Dockside Outlet at the Merrimack Premium Outlets in New Hampshire. Scheduled to open in early May, this will be our second spot in the great white north (Portsmouth being our first) and our second spot in a premium outlet location. Back on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, our State Road Bakery Café will reopen in mid-April with a new and improved interior flow and a much-needed facelift. While the address and enduring favorites like our Mousse Bomb remain the same, we hope to welcome islanders and visitors alike back to our upgraded indoor space and tranquil outdoor patio. We look forward to seeing you stop by to enjoy the same delicious treats we’ve been known for since ’95 and to sample some brand-new menu delights.
Old School
Our Summer 2023 collection just got a boost with some not so new additions we think will delight the masses – and it’s all in the name of charity. We are bringing back an old fan favorite, our “Fisherman Dog” graphic tee, and giving our best-selling mini-dog pattern collar and leash a makeover in our most sought-after color, Orangena. Our throwback designs will be available just in time for Memorial Day and a portion of all sales will be donated to charitable causes near and dear to our hearts.
New to the Pack
Finally, we are super-stoked to introduce our new partnership with a Black and Gold legend. Our collaboration with Boston Bruins defenseman, Charlie McAvoy, kicks off this summer with some Black Dog + CM cobranded apparel and dog product. More to come in the upcoming weeks, but in the meantime, we are thrilled to welcome him and his French Bulldog, Otto, into the Black Dog pack.
The buzz is real, and it is here. Happy Spring from your friends at The Black Dog!