A Dash of Salt In Vineyard Haven – Salt MV Has Vintage Clothes & So Much More

For years, I’ve driven past the shop, Salt, in Vineyard Haven wondering what it was all about. Not sure what I am talking about? It’s the cool, small building where the baseball field is behind Educomp.

By some stroke of luck, it was open when I drove by on Friday. I slammed on the breaks, reversed and pulled up.

The doors were open, welcoming you inside. I was immediately greeted by Sabra, she’s just as cool as her name. There was great music playing softly from a vintage tuner, and the space was even more amazing than I had imagined it to be.

So, it turns out that Salt is now open everyday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sabra is working there full time with owner, John Zannini who has owned Salt for over 15 years.

What is Salt?

Salt is a store filled with all sorts of cool new and vintage clothes and jewelry. John Zannini is actually a clothing design director, having worked for  Ralph Lauren, Filson, and Vineyard Vines. So, you can imagine he has an eye for fashion. Easy Vineyard, relaxed style.

Salt is like his island baby. He’s usually helping other major brands define their fashion, and here it’s about what he likes. He can express himself freely, and create a store that represents what he is about as a designer and an individual.

You can find some of the brands from companies he’s worked with but you can also get Brooklyn Denim there, cool net shirts from a European designer, vintage Wrangler tops, bags, hats, vintage silver jewelry and so much more. There are even some finds for the home here.

It’s an eclectic collection of wearable finds under the roof of one chic space.

While owner John is here, he has a summer home here but still has to work, because he likes to be doing something, Sabra has come on full time to help grow the Salt name.

Sabra is from Brooklyn, but came to the Vineyard for the summer to get away from the crazy live of working in the restaurant scene in New York City. She was going to work with chefs here, but decided she needed a break.

She was about to head back to the city, but met John and they both have a passion for fashion, so why not work together? She also has a bit of retail in her background, and was looking for a reason to stay on Martha’s Vineyard. Salt is that reason, and she and John are having a great time with it.

Since they met late in the season, Salt is almost like a “pop-up” shop since the space is being filled with all sorts of interesting things weekly – hand picked vintage finds from New York and hand crafted jewelry from city artists.

You really have to check it out to really appreciate how interesting it really is.

Clothes, Shoes, Jewelry and… Events

This summer, Salt is offering so much more than one-of-a-kind finds. There will also be a number of events at the shop. They kicked  off with Island favorite, Nina Violet. Pretty sweet way to begin August!

Throughout the month, there will be musical guests at Salt on Saturday nights starting around 8ish. On the 23rd, Kathryn Logan, who Sabra knows from Brooklyn, will be playing.

Next are  the  Hampton Brothers who will be playing on August 31st. And be on the lookout for guest appearances from the Island’s own, DJ Kid Pasta (Brendan O’Connor).

I like the vibe at Salt, and will be popping in throughout the rest of the season. I feel like chances are that one of the times I am going to find a really sweet vintage score. I am glad I was finally able to find out what the story was behind it.

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