By Kevin Greer
Lakeside Communications Manager
Cindie Stanfield owns the very popular Newport Dry Goods in the Knoll Crest Shopping Center in Port Clinton. She’s bringing a smaller version of her store, a short 10-minute drive to Lakeside.
Stanfield is opening Newport Lakeside in the former Fine Print bookstore location, a prime spot in Lakeside’s Business District on the corner of Walnut Avenue and West Second Street.
“The location was a selling point, for sure,” Stanfield said. “The inside of the store is really cute. It has some character.”
Stanfield earned a degree in fashion merchandising from Bowling Green State University and started working at the store in 1990, three years after it opened at Midway Marina Plaza on Catawba Island.
She became the owner five years ago, and store manager Jennifer Howell has been with Newport since 2005. There’s an average of 10-12 employees, and they’ll be part of a rotation, so everyone will work at the Lakeside location and get an opportunity to experience what the community has to offer.
Stanfield became aware of the vacancy in December from a customer who is a Lakesider. Since many of her patrons come from Lakeside, Stanfield thought it was a great fit. She ran a pop-up store in Huron for two summers, so she has experience running smaller shops.
“We like trying different things, and I know Lakeside has a lot of people in the summer,” Stanfield said. “It’s close by, so it would be easy to manage.”
Howell added, “We do get Lakeside residents and people coming here, so it’s another adventure for us.”
Stanfield said Newport Lakeside is going to be a “mini version” of Newport Dry Goods, which has been successful with logo wear for Catawba, the Great Lakes and Erie Islands.
Some of Newport’s top selling name brands are Liverpool, Charlie B, Tommy Bahama, Helly Hansen, Fusion, Southern Tide and Johnny O.
Minor renovations at the Lakeside location included the walls, floors and painting. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. It will be open weekends during the shoulder season, especially for special events like the Lighthouse Festival and Lakeside Christmas.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Howell said. “We’re hoping for it to be successful.”
