It’s always exciting when we stumble across new businesses in our area, but it’s double the fun when we discover one that is just a stone’s throw from our office! The Green Doors relocated from Snow Hill to West Ocean City recently, spurring us to stop in to see what the retail spot had to offer. We quickly discovered that the adorable little shop has A LOT to offer. A photo-op, an interview, and some much needed retail therapy ensued as we quickly fell in love with all of the local artisans featured in the store.
“Everything that I sell is handcrafted, from home-based businesses,” said The Green Doors owner Ronna Pishtey as she gave us a tour of her new space, which is located in the Ocean Creek Plaza along Route 50 in West Ocean City. The space may be small, but it packs a serious punch with the perfect gift, handcrafted good, or refurbished piece of furniture artfully placed in just about every direction you look. We always enjoy chatting with local business owners and snapping photos of their realized visions, but we couldn’t resist diverging from the interview questions this time, stopping every few minutes to consider purchasing an item. And truth be told, we walked out with several new purchases (oops, so much for better budgeting during the work week!).
The first item to catch our eye was the assortment of Chalk Paint on display when you first walk in the shop. For the DIY newbie, Chalk Paint is a widely popular line of decorative paint. Perfect for refurbishing run down furniture (or for just about any painting project really) Annie Sloan Chalk Paint has been leading the way in decorative painting for the last 25 years…and The Green Doors just so happens to be the only supplier in our area. “Everybody in the world is trying to copy it and they just can’t seem to do it as good as her,” said Ronna as she pointed out a before and after (pictured below) of a table with just one coat of Chalk Paint on it. Also available is Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint, a powdered, all-natural, versatile paint that can be used for any number of painting projects.
Classes in decorative paint are also available at The Green Doors; currently Ronna is offering an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint class and a BYOP (Bring Your Own Piece) workshop. The Chalk Paint class is described as ‘chalk paint 101’ where you learn two color distressing, color washes, and how to create a smooth versus rustic finish,. In the BYOP workshop, you’ll bring your own approved piece and learn the basics in transforming your lackluster treasure. Ronna noted that it’s the perfect gathering for a group of friends, a bridal party, or even just a solo endeavor in furniture rehab. She also has a Paint Therapy class in the works, where “you’ll go home with something you’ve made that’s fun and easy.”
Of course, The Green Doors also features many ready-to-buy options as well, including several fantastic pieces of reinvented vintage furniture, refurbished by Ronna herself. In addition to what you’ll find for sale in the shop, Ronna is also available to do custom work for customers that don’t have the time or interest in painting items themselves.
The store also showcases an intriguing array of gifts, jewelry, and accessories, all handcrafted by Maryland artists/artisans. There’s something for everyone, including jewelry, greeting cards, metalwork, artwork, soy candles, bags and purses, pottery…there’s even homemade laundry detergent. Each item in the store has a unique story or artist attached to it, which makes it all the more fun to shop.
Take a sneak peek inside The Green Doors by scrolling through our photos or stop by and pay Ronna a visit!
