Market planned for historic South Summer Street building

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The building on South Summer Street is currently the home of Very Vineyard. – Courtesy Tina Miller

A partnership of four Island residents is moving forward with plans to open a market and take-out food business at a historic home at 20 South Summer Street in Edgartown. The building began as a market nearly two centuries ago.

The building, which currently houses clothing retailer Very Vineyard, offices, and apartments, was once the home of Captain Samuel Pent, who was among the first Edgartown residents to volunteer for service in the Civil War.

Christopher Celeste, who, with his wife, Nancy Kramer, purchased the building for $2.5 million in January, plans to operate the business with his daughter Julia, former Flatbreads manager Tina Miller, and baker Rachael Fox.

“We’re optimistic we’ll be open for summer,” said Ms. Miller in an interview with The Times.

The project has some permitting hurdles. The partners have applied to the Edgartown Historic District Commission for a permit to tear down two small additions at the rear of the building.

“The building used to be a market back in the 1800’s,” Ms. Miller said. “We want to remove the back two buildings, which aren’t historic. There are two little pieces cobbled onto it; we want to remove those and add on an addition, making it fit into what the rest of the building is.”

Ms. Miller said the partners intend to operate the market as a year-round business.