Pip & Anchor

The vintage screen door to Pip & Anchor reveals a space replete with a wide range of local products and a country store feel. Co-founders chef Mayumi Hattori, Chris Sleeper, and Rita Higgins have brought together foods and beverages – including a nice selection of biodynamic and organic wines – from within an approximately 100-mile range. Hattori pointed out that a 100-mile limit can be difficult “since 30 of those miles are water.” Sleeper was the general manager and Hattori the chef at a local restaurant where their parallel love of all things fresh and local – as well as giving back to their community – planted an idea. In June of 2022, they opened the Nantucket market on Amelia Drive. “Pip is the seed, the beginning, ready for growth with the right nurturing, and Anchor is the maritime symbol of security,” Sleeper explained when asked about the name.

Nantucket has one chain grocery store, with two locations: a large one out of town and a smaller one in town. They were continually being wiped out of fresh items, yet didn’t use local farmers. Sleeper, Hattori, and Higgins saw an opportunity to help local farmers while providing quality nutritious food to the community. Through Nantucket Resource Partnership, Nourishing Nantucket (NN) was founded by the team to provide grocery boxes full of vitamin- and nutrient-rich food for healthy growth to local families with children who experience food insecurity. In less than two years, NN grew from 12 to 80 families per week, and now feeds 300 people. These folks pick their boxes up along with all customers so there is no distinction or loss of dignity, which is vital to the team. The group works directly with farmers so there is zero waste. They get calls from growers who have too much of a certain product – like kohlrabi – and Hattori will work out recipes to use both in their prepared food and to provide to shoppers for home cooking. They now get calls before planting season asking, “what can we grow for your customers and Nourishing Nantucket?”