Four new businesses have opened, or will soon open, at Olde Mistick Village, bringing the southeastern Connecticut shopping center’s total to 54 stores and restaurants.
Three of the businesses — Modern Heritage Collective, Crest & Compass and Scents of Mystic — opened in June. A fourth store, Raining Cats & Dogs, is scheduled to open in September.
“We are constantly striving to add more diversity in retail,” said Chris Regan, property manager of Olde Mistick Village.
Modern Heritage Collective, a 625-square-foot boutique, features Native American beadwork and clothing. Owner Allison Bennett, who has Haudenosaunee roots, started with handmade Native beadwork before expanding to include wardrobe items, artisan soaps and gifts.
Bennett plans to reopen her original location at the Velvet Mill in Stonington this fall while maintaining the Olde Mistick Village store.
Crest & Compass occupies 1,041 square feet and opened June 12. Owners Sandy and Carmine Lorusso sell handcrafted items including maps, family crests, dice sets and historic swords. The store offers custom engraving services and features a section devoted to old-world writing supplies.
Scents of Mystic, an 800-square-foot candle shop, is owned by Jamie and Jason Beausoleil. The couple also owns Rusty Relic locations at Olde Mistick Village and in Woodstock, which specialize in Amish-made furniture.
“We were selling so many candles at our Rusty Relic location that we decided to open a shop centered around candles,” Jason Beausoleil said.
Raining Cats & Dogs will occupy 1,137 square feet when it reopens in September.
The pet supply store, which closed in 2024 after more than three decades in business, is returning.
Former manager Erin Cote purchased the business and will use the original name. A July 23 Facebook post announcing the store’s return generated more than 1,900 likes.
“My brother closed Raining Cats and Dogs after 35 years, and it’s overwhelming the amount of people who said they missed the store,” Regan said.
The store will sell pet supplies, toys, clothing and gifts for animal lovers.
Olde Mistick Village opened in 1973 and is located near downtown Mystic and the Mystic Aquarium.
