Visiting Vermont Salumi’s AR Market
Photo credit: Shannon Alexander
When Peter Colman gave us a recent tour of AR Market, his bright, friendly storefront in downtown Barre, he had the conscientious attitude of an artist inviting someone in to their studio. We took time looking over the beautiful ingredients in the space, and he was quick to discuss everything our gaze fell on, be it bucatini (carbonara recipes began to roll right off his tongue) to the famous salumi itself, made in house.
Photo credit: Shannon Alexander
What was most striking about the business was the very happy customers. Shoppers bustled around merrily chatting with Peter about their purchases, and then mingled over to just-opened Pearl Street Pizza. With a vibe that reminds us of Northeast Kingdom’s Parker Pie, Pearl Street’s blue-tiled wood fire pizza oven and friendly bar gave a strong “everyone is welcome, and everything’s going to be okay” feeling.
Photo credit: Shannon Alexander
It may have been the first time that feeling had been evoked since early 2020 or so, but if one local business owner has decided friendly collaborations are going to emerge, pandemic or no, it’s Peter Colman. He purchased the historic building that houses AR Market and Pearl Street Pizza (with Vermont Salumi’s production occurring just out of view) and quickly brought it the business to life despite the challenges of Covid.
Photo credit: Shannon Alexander
Pearl Street Pizza offers live music, art, bar and table dining and its own ensemble cast: Stefano Coppola, owner of Morse Block Deli, heads things up and also brings chef Wilson Ballantyne, head chef Sara Chase (all three graduates of NECI) and bartender Chris Ruiz to the business.
Photo credit: Shannon Alexander
We saw picky eaters, after work drop-ins, dinner dates, grocery shoppers and takeout pickup all happening during the five o clock hour, and not one without a neighborly conversation. Keep up with the happenings on social media or just stop in.