When Barbli Noel first set foot in 72 Main St., East Hampton, she was overcome by a sensation.
“The walls were painted aqua green, and the people on the sidewalk staring in from the big windows made it feel like being in an aquarium,” she says. The experience served as inspiration for Noel, who leased the shop in 2018 and christened it Little Fish Gallery & Gift. And though the walls are no longer aqua green, the store has a definite coastal vibe.
Little Fish wasn’t Noel’s first foray into such a business. Years ago, she’d run a similar store in Syracuse, N.Y., but seeing college in her children’s future, she took a corporate job as a design manager for furniture chains. Once the Noel kids flew the coop, she decided to return to her first love —selling works from local artisans.
Being in her hometown gave Noel the advantage of knowing local artisans. “Growing up, my kids were into theater, so I worked on sets and met a lot of painters,” she says. “When Little Fish opened, artists started stopping in and asking how to have their works sold here.”
Word-of-mouth has led to Little Fish featuring works from 50 Connecticut artisans with 10 others from other New England locations. Noel happily shares information about them. “There’s Whitney Fielding, he’s third generation East Hampton and a bit of a local legend,” Noel says of the artist. “Gary O’Neil, a local potter who teaches at Wesleyan Potters, sells vases, mugs and large-scale bowls. And Paul Swiacke, a retired carpenter who makes everything from bird houses to inlaid jewelry boxes.”
Scour the 2,000-square-foot space to find jewelry, paintings, pottery, handmade ornaments, crocheted hats, handbags, scarves and myriad items made with seashells, a tip of the hat to the store’s name.
“We’ve got everything from three-for-a-dollar stickers to a $800 stained glass piece.”
At the back of the store is a photo gallery created by Noel’s son, Riley. “Photos were getting lost in the regular gallery, so he created a triangle of old factory windows display with a hand holding a red, dark room light along with vintage cameras.”
As for the building’s windows that spawned Little Fish’s name, they’ve been integral in the store’s growth. “People get a glimpse, then step inside and are wowed by the selection,” Noel says. “I still get a thrill watching this happen.”
Little Fish is open Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Can’t make it during those hours? Don’t let them deter you. “If I’m here working in my studio, I’ll happily let people in for private shopping if they message me on our Facebook or Instagram pages in advance.”
Upon moving to Connecticut in 2021, Bekah Wright went into full exploration mode, along the way, discovering some of the state's most unique spots. She has written for publications including TV Guide, Bon Appetit, Reader's Digest, Nat Geo Kids and Los Angeles Magazine. She previously volunteered with Chester’s tourism board.