The Farmacy Market, which opened on South Walnut Street in 2023, began as a way for Patrick and Chantel Helmick to share their love of wholesome, healthy foods with the community. The couple says they loved their original location, but wanted to create a better, more convenient experience for customers while also giving the business room to grow.
“We loved our original location on Walnut Street and are incredibly grateful for everything that space meant to us,” Chantel said. “It was where we opened our doors in 2023 and where so much of our Farmacy Family was built. But over time, we simply outgrew the space. There were also some things about the original location that we knew we wanted to implement in our new space. We wanted to make it easier for everyone to come in, to park, grab a cart and comfortably shop the entire market in one space on one floor.”
Chantel explained that when the opportunity arose to move to the new location on Northeast Front Street, it felt like the right next step for Farmacy Market and for customers.
“This has been such a positive change for us,” Chantel said. “We have more space for merchandise, bring in new products, expand our selection and create a much more comfortable and inviting shopping experience.”
Having everything on one floor has been a huge improvement, according to the Helmick’s. Customers can walk in, grab a shopping cart and shop the entire market without having to navigate stairs or multiple levels. Parking is also easier and accessibility is improved. These were important to the couple as they searched for a new location.
“The additional space has also allowed us to be more intentional about what we bring into the market,” Chantel said. “We have more room to grow our relationships with local farmers, makers and small businesses and create opportunities for them to connect directly with our customers.”
The Farmacy Market is offering more items now that they have more space. They have been able to bring in new brands and products while continuing to grow their selection of local products, fresh produce, meats, pantry items, gifts and other unique finds.
“We’re also able to create more experiences at the hive,” Chantel said. “One of the things we’re particularly excited about is our Pop-Ups at the Hive program, which gives us another opportunity to bring local businesses, makers, artisans and entrepreneurs into our space. Having additional room means we can continue trying new things, introduce our customers to more small businesses, and create experiences that simply weren’t possible in our previous location.”
Pop-Ups at the Hive is a way of creating an outdoor market experience. The Helmick’s wanted to create more opportunities for small businesses, farmers, makers, bakers, food vendors, artisans and other entrepreneurs to get in front of customers and showcase what they do.
“Local vendors can set up outside the hive during scheduled pop-up events, giving customers the opportunity to discover new businesses, meet the people behind the products, shop locally and experience something a little different when they visit Farmacy Market,” Chantel said. “For us, it’s about much more than simply having additional vendors outside our store. We really see it as another way for us to use our space to support the local business community and create connections.”
The Helmick’s are excited to continue growing the Pop-Ups at the Hive program and bringing different local businesses into the mix through the year. They hope customers stop by the hive and think “I wonder what is popping up today.”
“The response to the new location has been incredible and we’re so grateful,” Chantel said. “Our customers have been incredibly supportive throughout the entire move. Moving a business is a huge undertaking and we knew there would be an adjustment period, but our Farmacy Family really showed up for us. We’ve heard many good comments about the new space, especially the easier parking, being on one floor, having more room to shop, and finally having shopping carts. Those might sound like little things, but they make a huge difference int eh overall shopping experience.”
The Helmick’s say that more than anything, they are excited to hear that the new space still feels like the Farmacy Market.
“That was really important to us,” Chantel said. “We wanted to grow without losing the heart and personality of what we’ve built.
One thing the Helmick’s want everyone to understand is that the address of the Farmacy Market may have changed, but they have not.
“Farmacy Market has always been about bringing people together through good food, supporting local farmers and makers, and creating a place where customers feel welcomed and valued. The new space simply gives us more room to do those things,” Chantel said. “We’re incredibly proud of how far Farmacy Market has come since we opened in 2023, and we’re even more excited about what comes next. The new hive gives us the opportunity to continue growing, trying new things, supporting more local businesses, and creating new experiences for our customers.”
In addition, the Helmick’s view the new space as an opportunity to become an even bigger part of the local business community; not just a place where people shop, but as a place where local businesses, makers, farmers and entrepreneurs can connect with our customers and with one another.
“At the end of the day, we want Farmacy Market to continue being a place where people feel like they belong,” Chantel said. “We want our customers to feel welcomed when they walk through the door, excited about what they discover, and proud to support the local businesses and producers that make our community so special. We truly feel we are just getting started.”
Farmacy Market is located at 301 Northeast Front Street in Milford, next door to Fur Baby. Their hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM.
