East Fork to open Brooklyn store

NEW YORK – East Fork, the Asheville, N.C.-based pottery maker, is opening a store in Brooklyn, N.Y., this week, its first foray into the New York market.

Founded by Alex Matisse in 2009, East Fork has grown from a supplier of mugs fired in a backyard kiln into a Certified B Corporation that offers a wide range of goods and accessories for the kitchen, including block-printed napkins, textural hand-woven runners, fluted glassware and minimalist flatware designed with comfort in mind. It recently expanded into living room accents.

Its new 750-square-foot Brooklyn store on Atlantic Avenue features East Fork’s signature blend of minimalism and warmth. The interior, featuring terracotta tones, exposed brick, and wood shelves, showcases the brand’s collection of crafted mugs, plates, bowls and more. There is also a limited-time, seasonal assortment – Wine Dark Sea and Big Sky colorways, along with the new forest green hue, In the Pines. Also debuting is a cocktail set designed in collaboration with Craighill and limited-edition merchandise from Dinner Service, both New York-based brands.

“We have more loyal East Fork collectors in Brooklyn than anywhere else in the country which made the decision to open a new store here pretty easy,” said Matisse. “When we narrowed in on Brooklyn, there really was one block that we wanted to be on. We looked at two other storefronts that fell through before landing at 377 Atlantic, but I’m glad our persistence paid off. We’re surrounded by so many other amazing independent homeware stores and boutiques, and it feels like the energy is just building and building. We’re so excited to be part of this community and I look forward to watching our store settle into the neighborhood.”

The new location, which opens Nov. 16, is East Fork’s third brick-and-mortar store, joining its flagship in Asheville and its Atlanta shop.

The company is opening its new store as it is also working to get its Asheville business back up and running after the devastation of Hurricane Helene last month. In an Instagram post two weeks ago, Matisse said, “My focus has been on getting our factories back open.”

East Fork’s electricity is back on, its water is back on, and it is working to get big water tanks installed where it makes the pots, Matisse said. “The city is making progress. Water is still going to be the challenge for everyone in Asheville … for a long time.”

In late October, shipping had resumed and orders were being fulfilled, albeit with delays. As of Oct. 25, orders were taking up to three weeks to ship, according to the company’s website.

East Fork recently collaborated with Dinner Service on a workshop sweater decorated with pottery motifs; a portion of sales will benefit Hurricane Helene relief work in Asheville.

In October, a spokesperson said East Fork raised $204k to be split between its three community partners BeLoved Asheville, Poder Emma, and Equal Plates Project. Now through the end of the year, 5% of all East Fork sales will continue to go towards grassroots organizations that are on the ground supporting those most impacted by Hurricane Helene.