The Farmhouse Store to Bring Artisan Crafts to Palmer Square

Princeton will soon welcome a new store to Palmer Square when The Farmhouse Store opens at 43 Hullfish St. in Palmer Square.

The tentative opening day is Friday, Oct. 26. 

Owners Ron and Kristin Menapace, who moved their young family to Princeton from Southern California about a year ago, plan to bring the same flair that has built a following at the original Farmhouse Store in Westfield, owned by Ron’s brother, Ed Menapace and partner Bill Curtis.  

The Princeton store will carry a selection of handmade artisan gifts, pottery, hand-blown glass, wood, textiles, metal, paper, home decor and jewelry. The store will also carry furniture made from reclaimed antique barn wood.

The merchandise will include items not typically found in other places, the Menapaces said. Some of the artisans are people the Menapaces have met in their travels across the U.S., including the wife of a surfer from Bodega Bay, Calif. who makes handmade jewelry.

“People here in Princeton, they place value on the arts, they appreciate artisans and craftsman and I think that will translate very well,” said Ron Menapace, who spent the last dozen or so years working in the pharmaceutical industry.

The couple will also sell some Princeton-specific merchandise, including necklaces with black squirrels and black squirrel ornaments to start and more items in the future.

Store employees- four to start- can help customers find just the right gift or item.

“We can find uncommon treasures for any situation,” Ron Menapace said.

The couple has signed a five-year lease on the 3,325 sq. ft. store and spent the last three weeks refinishing the floors, installing carpet, painting, updating the restrooms, installing bookcases and setting up merchandise.

The Menapaces decided to move to Princeton for its community and family feel and its walkable downtown.

“I just think it’s a wonderful community with lots for the kids, lots of different events, the library’s wonderful, it just seemed like a great fit,” said Kristin Menapace, who will work in the store part-time and continue to run Baby Boot Camp Princeton three days a week and teach two online courses at Rutgers. “We’ve been really happy this last year getting to know the community and our neighbors." 

The Farmhouse Store will be open Mon–Wed 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thurs-Sat 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 pm.