April in Middlebury marks the arrival of spring and with it, Vermont’s mud season. Mud season, usually beginning in March and April, refers to the transition period between winter and spring when snow has melted, leaving muddy conditions.
For students, locals and visitors looking to stay out of the mud, the Stone Mill Public Market in downtown Middlebury offers an alternative activity to hiking: from browsing bright jewelry and spring-scented candles, to enjoying the ambiance on the front patio or back deck overlooking Otter Creek.
The Stone Mill, formerly known as the Frog Hollow Stone Mill, is a historic building on Mill St. in Middlebury, built in 1840. The building now houses a public market on the first floor, a co-working space on the second and four hotel rooms available for booking via Airbnb, on the top floor following a renovation in 2019.
In an interview with The Campus, Mary Garvin, Manager of the Stone Mill, spoke about which new items will be in stock starting this spring.
“My favorite, the beeswax candles from happy organics. We have some fun jewelry, from a company in New York City, in Rockaway near the beach. This stuff is the swell life with all handmade and beaded, really cute. So those I’ll be putting out soon,” Garvin said.
Garvin added that customers can also find gifts and cards for upcoming occasions such as Mother’s Day and graduations, along with the collection of home goods that are consistently in stock.
The market offers snacks and beverages, including iced green tea and Culture Pop sodas, and also features a cafe space that is not currently in operation.
“We have a lot of tea and iced tea and lemonade. So you can sit outside on both of our terraces, the deck,” Garvin said.
Though not currently operational, Garvin said the cafe will host pop-up events this spring, including a wine bar scheduled for May 1, and that they are always eager for people to come sit at the tables in the space to work or just spend time there.
“Coming to grab a cold drink, sitting outside meeting friends –– it’s a great spot to have a meeting. Hook up to the internet [to] work for a little while in between meetings,” Garvin said in reference to the cafe.
“There’s the Plein Air Festival that Sparrow art supply is doing, and we’re one of the venues where you can sit outside and paint outside,” Garvin said, continuing to discuss the outdoor spaces available at the Stone Mill.
The Plein Air Festival, held each spring, invites participants to paint outdoors across Middlebury. Described by Sparrow Art Supplies as “a weekend of outdoor painting, connection, and creative exploration,” the event will take place June 12–14.
The Stone Mill attracts a steady stream of customers throughout the year who browse coffee table books and home goods items; a current customer standout are the colorful fruit-shaped candles (such as raspberry, avocado, and blueberry) displayed in a wicker basket on one of the store’s tables.
“And then obviously, around any of the big college weekends, we get busier. Holidays are very busy as well. But springtime, I would say, now that people are coming out and they know that we have, you know, cold drinks and gifty things. It’s just like getting the word out that we are here,” Garvin said.
The store is located next to Otter Creek and shares its building with the Mexican restaurant Mad Taco. Abbey Boyd ’26, who works at the Stone Mill Public Market twice a week, commented on the business’s location.
“I think the location is beautiful. It’s nice now that it’s getting nice out, and to see people sort of filter in and out, especially with Mad Taco downstairs too. I also think that being right along the water is very intriguing, and it makes the Stone Mill a nice pit stop,” Boyd said.
Boyd said she enjoys working at the Stone Mill and highlighted the store’s stationery and gift card selection as some of her favorite items.
“We just put out some new fun spring and summer jewelry too. And also got some new refreshing drinks, which are exciting to stop by and try,” Boyd said.
With spring bringing longer days and more activity along Otter Creek, the Stone Mill serves as a pleasant stop for those looking to shop, meet for a quick drink or simply spend time outdoors yet out of the mud this spring in downtown Middlebury.
“We’re always trying to encourage people to come up and, you know, shop, bring their food or their drinks. They can sit outside on any of the decks and enjoy it if downstairs is full, and what else,” Garvin said.
Izzy Ronda '26 (she/her) is a Local Editor.
Izzy is a local editor for the campus. She is majoring in English with a double minor in Italian and Political Science. Outside of The Campus, Izzy is a member of the Middlebury Women's Squash Team and a contributing writer for Clover Magazine. This past summer Izzy worked as a reinsurance broking intern at a company in New York City.
