by Suzanne Daub
In the heart of town on Federal Street, Commonwealth Nantucket has carved a distinctive niche in Nantucket’s retail landscape. What began nearly a decade ago as a carefully curated vintage clothing and accessories boutique has evolved into a dual-concept store where luxury fashion meets fine wine.
Born from owner’s lifelong passion for second-hand shopping and the thrill of discovery, Eileen Harkness founded Commonwealth Nantucket in 2017 and opened her doors on Nantucket in May of 2018. “I’ve always loved second hand shopping—it is more sustainable, and I love the hunt for unique treasures,” she explained. Her philosophy was simple: create a highly curated shopping experience featuring only like-new condition pieces from designer, trendy, and unique labels.
This season, Commonwealth Nantucket moved to a space at 16 Federal Street. “Edwin [Claflin] and I had an opportunity to buy 16 Federal and we jumped at the chance. It’s a beautiful building on one of Nantucket’s best streets. We love the space, and we’re getting better foot traffic.” And it has the space to include Mór Wine within the shop.
The vintage side of Commonwealth continues to thrive on its selective curation process. “We are fortunate that our clientele has excellent taste!” Harkness notes. “We are selective about what we take in order to create a very curated shopping experience for our clientele.” Currently, the store features a standout piece that exemplifies this approach: a Hermès Birkin bag in Chevre Mysore “which has an amazing texture and is a very hard-to-find Hermès leather.” The timing was ideal, as Jane Birkin’s original bag went up for auction with Sotheby’s in Paris in July, “which I think makes this bag very of the moment.”
The addition of Mór Wine represents an well-paired expansion that transforms Commonwealth from a single-focus boutique into a lifestyle destination. The concept emerged from a partnership with Edwin Claflin, a longtime friend and fellow business owner who proposed the idea in 2023.
“He and I have been friends for a long time. We have watched each other grow our businesses over the years, and we have a mutual respect for how we operate our businesses and how we strive to contribute to our community,” explained Eileen. “I think it was easy to look at how beloved and successful Current Vintage was and imagine that we could give the community a similar shopping experience.”
Their collaboration follows a “divide and conquer” approach, with each partner bringing their expertise to different aspects of the business while maintaining collaborative decision-making. Edwin and Eileen, now business partners, “have worked hard over the last year to make it happen! We are technically operating two shops within one space.”
Mór Wine focuses on bringing a unique selection of wines and liquors to the island, positioning itself as a destination where customers can “seek out favorites but also try something new.” Claflin selects the wines, whiskeys, and bourbons, as that is where his experience lies. Even though they bring different expertise to the shop, Harkness added,”we are a team and do consult each other on most things…We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback. People are excited!”
Commonwealth strives to maintain its identity as a fun, energetic, and distinctive place to shop while accommodating both fashion hunters and wine enthusiasts. The goal is to create an environment where customers might come in with interest in one area but discover something unexpected in the other. “We’ve had a lot of husband-wife couples coming in and saying, ‘I love it! Something for me, something for her,’” highlighting how the dual concept serves diverse interests within the same store.
The store’s event programming reflects its dual nature and commitment to community engagement. Wine tastings every Friday from 4-7 pm provide regular opportunities for customers to explore new selections, while “sip n shop” popups with other local businesses and organizations create collaborative experiences throughout the summer season. This Friday, August 15, the tasting will feature Sauvignon Blanc & Sancerre.
Looking ahead, plans are in the works to host some wine dinners at Òran Mór Bistro, where Edwin Claflin is Chef/Owner, that will highlight the connection between Òran Mór and Mór Wine.
As a seasonal operation running from April through December, Commonwealth Nantucket and Mor Wine have time to assess and adapt their concept based on customer response and community needs. “Edwin and I have a lot of ideas about how to grow it and how to have some fun with some different concepts and various events,” Harkness revealed “I think we will see what people are looking for over the next year or so, and that will influence what direction we go.”
By combining two distinct but complementary retail experiences under one roof, Commonwealth offers “all your favorite things in one place”—a dual experience concept that is resonating strongly with locals and visitors to the island.
