First laid out in 1678, Centre Street is the oldest street on Nantucket and is best known for the preponderance of women merchants in the nineteenth century, hence its name “Petticoat Row.” While the men were often away for long stretches working in the whaling industry, the wives and daughters were out of the house earning a living for their families, and were recognized for their hard work and thrift.

Remain Ventures believed there was an opportunity to harken back to the vibrancy of Petticoat Row with a bakery and mercantile or general store at 35 Centre Street and first opened Petticoat Bakery in 2010. The bakery is located in a three-story building containing 866 square feet of retail space on the first floor, a fully equipped kitchen on the second floor, basement storage with a walk-in freezer and attic space for additional dry storage. The building has housed the business Born & Bread since 2019. 

The kitchen and bakery offer its tenants the ability to prepare baked goods for mercantile customers, as well as wholesale clients. The first floor retail space is a hub of activity on Centre Street, selling curated items for a food-loving Nantucket audience. These items include kitchenware, tabletop items, artisanal and locally produced food items, cookbooks, sustainable and eco-friendly products and packaging and kids’ culinary items. In addition, Born & Bread has a beer and wine license, so customers may pick up refreshments to go with their hot panini sandwiches or other goodies from the bakery case or refrigerator.