The Black Box Welcomes Two New Tenants to Washington Avenue: Onggi Ferments & Foods and Alice Yardley
The new businesses are opening April 2021 and plan to be in The Black Box as long-term tenants.
Left: Exterior of The Black Box, located on Washington Avenue in Portland, Maine; Middle: a shelf display inside the new Onggi Ferments & Foods; Right: clutches that are designed and made by Alice Yardley (photo courtesy of The Black Box).
PORTLAND, Maine (April 5, 2021) - The Black Box on Washington Avenue, Portland’s first repurposed shipping container and retail incubator, is excited to announce the addition of two new tenants this spring: Onggi Ferments & Foods, a community space to explore ferments and foods, and Alice Yardley, a contemporary handbag designer, are both set to open this month.
Pronounced “OWN-GHEE” - Onggi is named after the Korean fermentation vessels famous for their fermentation-friendly properties and role in everyday life. While Onggi is the first fermentory to join The Black Box, the founders are not new to the fermenting scene.
Owned and operated by Amy Ng, Erin Zobitz and Marcus Im, the trio have worked on numerous projects together, including 100 Days of Ferments and SUPPLY UNICA.
Onggi’s mission is to make the cultures of fermentation more accessible and approachable. Onggi will be a market for fermented food, a retail shop for fermentation equipment and a resource through classes and workshops for those interested in learning the skills to produce their own fermented foods at home.
“The Black Box was something we've had our eyes on for a couple years now, with its proximity to so many incredible food and drink venues,” said Marcus Im, co-founder of Onggi. “It's in such an exciting part of town, and the size of the units provides a great entrypoint for an up-and-coming business. We hope Onggi can supplement the existing food scene with more focused attention on fermented foods. Stacked between breweries, distilleries, a meadery, and a kombuchery - it's a perfect spot.”
Onggi will carry everything needed to start at-home ferments, as well as small-batch ferments from their favorite (and mostly local to Maine) makers. In addition to carrying local products, Onggi will begin selling its own housemade ferments in the coming months, such as kimchis, mustards, shrubs, and hot sauces. Onggi is occupying Unit 5 of The Black Box and will be open from Thursday - Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Follow along and learn more via https://onggi.com or on the business Instagram page @onggiferments.
Occupying Unit 3 and also opening its doors in mid-April, Alice Yardley is a contemporary handbag designer based in Portland, Maine. While working as a high school art teacher for eight years in Atlanta and New York City, Alice developed a passion for leather-working, color theory and accessory design.
When starting the company in 2018, Alice utilized her relationships with local upholstery and leather shops to repurpose leather pieces into unique bags. A large portion of her work continues to be made with repurposed leather, and she is extremely passionate about contributing to the sustainable and zero-waste movement in the world of fashion. Each handbag is thoughtfully created into a one-of-a-kind design handmade by Alice herself.
“The Black Box has been on my radar since they first opened, while I was still living in Brooklyn, and just starting my company,” said Alice Yardley, owner and designer of Alice Yardley. “I'm so excited to be back in Portland, where I grew up, and to officially be part of a community of businesses like the ones on Washington Avenue. This area looks completely different from when I left Portland 14 years ago, and it has an energy and youthfulness that I think really reflects Portland's spirit. My handbags are created by hand using leather that has been repurposed from local upholstery shops in Maine - I think there's something so powerful about working with materials that have switched hands throughout the Maine community and have been previously used in a completely different way before. I can't wait for the opportunity to share my work, to be a part of a community, and to learn from and collaborate with my fellow Black Box and Washington Avenue businesses!"
Alice Yardley will be open on Wednesday - Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Follow along for updates and learn more via the business Instagram page @aliceyardley.maine.
The Black Box opened in November 2018 with leases designed to be flexible and to accommodate business owners who want space to test a concept or provide street-front retail space without a long-term commitment. Read more about The Black Box concept and mission here.
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About The Black Box
The Black Box offers unique and flexible retail space in Portland, Maine's East End, in the heart of inner Washington Avenue. The single-story structure is built using repurposed shipping containers. Each of the five units is approximately 300 square feet, offering move-in ready space and 8’ wide double glass doors off the sidewalk. For more information, visit www.tbbwashington.com or follow the journey on Instagram or Facebook.
Media Contacts:
The Black Box
Katie Wolitarsky
Onggi Ferments & Foods
Marcus Im
Alice Yardley
Alice Yardley