Washington, NC continues to grow and thrive as it welcomes a new addition to downtown. Flying Pig Provisions, a boutique store located in the heart of the harbor district, opened its doors on November 14th.

Touting itself as a place to shop for ‘the quirky, the specialty, and the nostalgic,’ its merchandise includes unusual kitchen gadgets, gourmet food items, old fashioned candies, coffees, teas, candles, and more. Owners Jeff Furst and his wife, Linda, have had a vision to open a country mercantile- type business that will appeal to boaters, tourists, and locals alike.

"We wanted to offer items for gifts, gourmet foods, and some basic groceries like eggs and milk, as well as things that boaters could use like gallons of water, ice, flip flops, suntan lotions, and sunglasses."

"It’s really interesting. We have a lot of local products. A lot of local artisans. Our branded coffee is made locally. We sell Petals and Produce [products], Pirate’s Candy (out of Wilmington), but we’ve mixed that with international stuff. We have all kinds of pastas and sauces and vinegars from Italy. We offer different seasonings, and specialty foods from Greece, so we bring in around the world and locally. We also sell Sunshinee Sausage, which is made in Ernul, NC. It has been very popular."

Jeff and Linda actually looked for a space to rent for the business three years ago, and ended up buying the building. Three years of renovations later, Flying Pig Provisions is open for business.

Furst says he believes the shop will really fulfill a need to residents, boaters, and anyone strolling the waterfront. The store has two entrances, one on Main Street and one on the waterfront side, giving easy access to shoppers.

Furst and his wife also own ‘When Pigs Fly Inn,’ a charming, historic (1902) bed & bath that’s just down the street from the store.

When asked advice to someone considering opening a business in town, Furst says, "I would highly encourage it. Washington is very welcoming. Between the inn and the new shop, we see a lot of people coming to the area, and the main reason that I hear folks are coming here is the people. People are just so friendly here. Linda and I have lived here almost seven years, and between the beauty of the waterfront and the people, that’s a great combination. We would welcome anyone to this town."

Flying Pig Provisions is located at 215 West Main Street. Their hours are Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 12-4pm.

Find them on Facebook or at flyingpigprovisions.com