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Date: 1/17/2023
NORTHAMPTON – The former Birdhouse music space, which has been vacant since last summer, will feature a familiar Northampton shop come summer 2023.
ASSEMBLE, a furniture, vintage and art shop currently located at Thornes Marketplace, will officially move into the vacant storefront on 164 Main St. on the corner of Old South Street.
In an online statement, ASSEMBLE founder Justin Brown said that the new space already feels like home to him.
“It’s a few hundred square feet larger so we can have a bit more room to breathe and is filled with such beautiful light,” said Brown, in the statement. “The exposed brick walls are a dream and flow of the space is perfect for us.”
In a phone call with Reminder Publishing, Brown said he makes furniture and sculptures out of locally reclaimed materials. Holistically, ASSEMBLE functions as a part gallery, part furniture store and part vintage shop.
In addition to his furniture designs, Brown also showcases his sculptural assemblages, curates vintage and found objects, manages a roster of local independent artists and maintains a schedule of in-store events.
“I like to take old things a part and rebuild them to give them a different function,” said Brown. “That could be like taking an old dresser and making it into a bar.”
ASSEMBLE has been part of Thornes since May 2017, according to Brown. Before that, he shared a space with Sticks and Bricks for several years on Market Street.
Birdhouse, a musical instrument shop, moved to Easthampton’s Cottage Street in August. Prior to their residency, the 164 Main St. front also housed Sherman Jewelers, Iris Photo & Digital and Benetton.
“We offer such a variety of things that the new space will only add to what the store is,” said Brown, of the move.
For now, ASSEMBLE will remain open in Thornes while renovations are completed at the Main Street spot before the official summer opening. Readers can check out ASSEMBLE’s website to learn more about what Brown does and what he offers: https://assemblenorthampton.com/.