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The Mill at Crane Pond

Pottery Cellar

  1. Tell me about yourself. My name is Dawn Whitehill, and I was born and raised in Westfield. Since my early thirties, I have always wanted to establish my own Polish Pottery business with a small cafe.

  2. What was the catalyst for deciding to open the Pottery Cellar? In the late fall of 2016, I learned that my favorite place to purchase Polish Pottery, made at the Ceramika Artystyczna factory in Poland, was closing. The owner chose not to sell her business and instead liquidated her inventory, closing her doors in December 2016. Having set my heart on The Mill at Crane Pond, my persistent inquiries paid off after about six months, when we were finally shown the space that now houses the Pottery Cellar. We established a partnership with a distributor in the United States for the pottery, and we also travel to Pennsylvania for various other merchandise. Additionally, we proudly showcase Jojo's Rustic Remnants wreaths and other home decor. During the holiday season, we collaborate with a few local vendors, featuring their craftsmanship for which we are truly grateful.

  3. What does the Pottery Cellar offer? The Pottery Cellar offers the most extensive selection of authentic Polish pottery from the CA factory in New England, along with a small assortment from other Polish factories. We also present a wide variety of wreaths, home decor, candy, and truffles. Our unique offering is The Bubble Mug Cafe, where all meals are served on Polish Pottery. Moreover, we provide a gathering space accommodating up to fifty people, making it an ideal venue for showers, birthdays, meetings, and any special event where you wish to be surrounded by rustic elegance and dine on genuine Polish pottery.

  4. How has the Pottery Cellar evolved over the years? Over the past five years, the Pottery Cellar has undergone several expansions. Our business has experienced remarkable growth, particularly after the pandemic, both in the retail sector and within our cafe and banquet gathering space.

  5. What does the future hold for the Pottery Cellar? We are exploring significant offsite events for both our retail and food business and aim to establish connections beyond the confines of The Mill at Crane Pond.