Shopping at Viand Mercantile in Portland, Maine

Viand’s historic storefront is at 470 Fore Street in the Old Port section of Portland, Maine.

“About three times a year we collaborate with Falmouthtown Flower Co. on a dried floral installation,” explains Viand Mercantile owner Jenny Bravo. “We follow the seasons as well as the aesthetic of our current products.”

A section of the store devoted to gardening features vintage and new pots as well as planting tools and other outdoor accessories.

A vintage European buffet holds both old and new gifts, cards, and candles.

A vintage painting and wallpaper hand block mingle with new items, including vases by European brand Bergs Potter and candles from Maryland-based Lodestone Candles of Kent & Co.

Local products include an oyster platter by Ae Ceramics and Carmi Katsir’s stackable glasses.

As a commercial food photographer, stylist, and antiques lover, Jenny Bravo had amassed quite the prop pantry in her Portland, Maine, photo studio over the years.
So much so, in fact, that she began selling some of her vintage and antique finds in 2020. What started as monthly online drops under the name Viand Vintage led to seasonal brick-and-mortar pop-ups and then, in 2023, a permanent shop in the city’s Old Port area.

“The momentum kept building, and it was kismet that I found this old storefront with huge windows and tons of character,” says Bravo.

With this latest incarnation, Viand Mercantile, Bravo is not only scratching the vintage itch (think a Swedish dresser or a Persian runner), but she’s tapping into a wide range of new furniture and products—including jewelry, bedding, ceramics, tableware, garden tools, hardware, books, accessories, and children’s decor—from vendors,
artists, and artisans near and far.

“Whether it’s artwork or glassware, there are so many incredible talents in Maine and the rest of New England,” says Bravo. “I want to create space for those makers and artists to be found. You never know who you might stumble upon.”

And while highlighting beloved contemporary items is a large part of the store’s mission, the vintage element remains a critical fixture. Bravo even offers
a free service to customers looking for a specific one-of-a-kind item, alerting them if she happens upon something that may work during one of her antiquing trips.

“The goal is to offer an approachable space where people can find pieces that speak to them and fit their soul,” says Bravo. “Everyone should have a home that reflects their sense of style.” Viand Mercantile, Portland, Maine, viandmercantile.com