THE BLACK CIRCLE
Eclectic mix of goods at shop on Beekman Street
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Beekman Street has a new retail shop with an eclectic mix of goods that each have a story.
The Black Circle, the newest addition to the Beekman Street Arts District, opened earlier this month at 79 Beekman St. in Saratoga Springs, the former home of Spa City Bicycleworks.
The Black Circle features local artwork, artisan furniture handcrafted from reclaimed wood, vintage and secondhand clothing, vinyl records, and other hand crafted goods.
The store is operated by firsttime business owner Greer Hamilton of Saratoga Springs.
The idea for The Black Circle came about during a conversation on a Beekman Street porch between Hamilton and his buddies. He was telling them about a brown leather jacket he bought, then the talking grew to into a conversation about a fantasy business that offered records, clothes, furniture and artwork — “anything that’s unique and cool and had the chance of giving a second life to something,” said Hamilton, who has experience in retail and customer service.
Following that discussion, Hamilton turned that brainstorming session into a reality by opening up The Black Circle. He now calls that jacket, which is for sale in the shop, “the epiphany piece.”
Hamilton said being shop owner at The Black Circle is kind of a dream job for him.
“I always wanted to do local art,” he said. “I always wanted to do this little alternative lifestyle kind of thing.”
With his connections to local artists, a growing collection of records and clothing, and access to his father-in-law’s handcrafted furniture creations made from reclaimed wood in the Shenandoah Valley, “It just ended up being a perfect fit to come here and have a little gallery, but also do retail too.”
From repurposed antique organs to mosaic art to funky dresses, “Pretty much everything here has a story behind it,” Hamilton said while looking around his new shop.
Every item large and small has a story, and Hamilton is happy to share those tales with his customers as they shop.
Additionally, Hamilton likes giving the items themselves new life, whether it’s a vintage T-shirt or an old church pew.
In the future, Hamilton would like to expand the inventory at The Black Circle to include more local artists, and help them make a living off of their work.
Though he modestly calls himself a dime store artist, Hamilton makes some of the work available for sale in the shop, too
In the future, Hamilton plans for the store to offer equipment rentals for playing disc golf, another one of his passions.
Hamilton’s goal for The Black Circle is to grow and become a Beekman Street staple, and an integral part of the local arts community.
So far, since opening its doors, customers seem to love The Black Circle and its eclectic concept, Hamilton said. A few weeks ago, hundreds of new faces came in during the annual Beekman Street Art Fair, and feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Fellow Beekman Street business owners have also given The Black Circle a warm welcome.
“The community has been great,” Hamilton said.
The Black Circle is open from noon to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
More information on The Black Circle in available at www.facebook.com/TheBlackCircle518. The shop is also on Instagram @theblackcircle518.
To contact the The Black Circle directly, call (518) 928-2483.