Business must run in his family. Amory Bowie, a 6th grader at Saltonstall School in Salem,  has just launched  his newest business venture. After pitching the idea to his parents in order to secure the financing for his first gumball machine, he has launched himself into the vending machine business. His first gumball was dispensed today from the shiny yellow machine at The Picklepot on Pickering Wharf, a store his parents own and operate.

When asked what gave him the idea to start his own gumball business, Amory said: "Well, I love gumballs, and I was always going to other stores to get, so I asked my dad if we could have one at his store." He knows he is going to be on the hook for maintaining the machine, keeping it clean, the gumballs fresh and refilling it when it gets low. "I got the kind with the most different flavors. Lemon lime, pineapple, strawberry..." 

"When he asked us, we thought it would be fun, and a great way to teach him about basic business concepts." says his mother, Jennifer "jeff" Bowie.
"As a kitchen store, I didn't really have much for kids in my business plan, so this seemed like a good fit." The store owner and proud father, David Bowie, said. "And who doesn't love a good gumball now and again?"



 
 
Salem Patch made a great video of yesterday's opening!
Check it out...
http://salem.patch.com/articles/video-the-picklepot-reopens-with-some-spice
 
 
We had our official ribbon cutting with the Mayor and the Chamber of Commerce today. A good time was had by all! David and Ben Bouchard get credit for the animated .gif on the front page. 
Thanks to everyone who has helped us make this new adventure possible. 
 
 
Makers of local raw honey.

There are some happy bees in Westford MA, and we have 1/2 pound and one pound jars of their best honey.

Turns out the folks at Big Buzz are people we have known for more than 20 years. We went looking for a local honey producer and reconnected with old friends!
 
 
Well, maybe not in person, but his Pepper and Salt grinders are! Made in America and guaranteed for life. Both traditional "federal" styles, acrylic, fine woods and stainless steel.
 
 
Join us, the Salem Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Driscoll, our neighbors and friends on Wednesday, September 21st at 3pm for our reopening reception. 
 
 
Wow... Another vendor arrived today with cool kitchen goodies! Countertop compost bins fashionable enough for even the most modern kitchens. Tea pots, tea tongs, infusers and strainers. Storage containers, prep ware, scoops, spoons, salt & pepper shakers... the invoice was 14 pages long!

We will be in all day tomorrow, opening boxes and trying to find homes for all these things! If you sti
 
 
Many of you who knew the Picklepot in it's previous life may still remember the "Bibliographic Relocation Program". Just as the Picklepot has evolved, so has our bookshelf!

We now have a whole RACK of cookbooks that you can browse through for recipe ideas, "borrow" indefinitely, or add to with cook books you no longer use. 

Check it out next time you stop in!