The Brick Store is the passion project of Christa Driscoll, who lovingly restored this 1830 general store with her husband, with the hope that it will stand for another 200 years.
Originally built as a small-town country store, the building has once again become a place for the local community to gather — just as it was nearly two centuries ago.
Today, the main floor is home to Christa’s stationery, design, art, and antique print studio. The building continues to serve as a gathering place, hosting workshops, celebrations, and events across both floors.
The Brick Store retains many of its original features and architectural details. The open floor plan and long wall counters still echo the rhythm of Vermont’s early general stores. Much of the structure, materials, and craftsmanship remain intact, preserving its setting and sense of place.
The barn still holds its original wooden pulley system once used to move goods. Aside from modest changes to the storefront windows in the late 19th century and minor alterations to the barn access, the building’s footprint and structure have remained largely unchanged.
Situated at the main intersection of this small town, the store reflects its original role as part of Fairfield’s early commercial center — and continues to serve as a gathering place today.
Constructed in 1830, the building that would become known simply as “The Brick Store” began serving Fairfield at the center of town life. From its earliest days, it was more than a place of commerce — it was where neighbors crossed paths, news traveled, and daily rhythms unfolded.
Originally owned by the Soule family — whose roots trace back to Fairfield’s settlement in the late 1700s — the store carried the name A.G. Soule & Co. Members of the Soule family, including three Soule sisters, later managed the store. The family also served the town as clerks, postmasters, and legislators — woven deeply into the civic life of Fairfield.
As Fairfield evolved, so did the storefront. Large display windows were added to the main facade sometime between the late 1800s and early 1900s, giving the store its recognizable street presence.
Despite small updates, the building remained largely intact — its brickwork, wide plank floors, counters, and layout continuing much as they had since the 19th century.
For generations, The Brick Store operated as a country store serving local families. Under Gertrude Howrigan’s ownership in the mid-1900s, the building also housed postal services — reinforcing its role as a daily touchpoint in town life.
With only a handful of owners over nearly two centuries, the building has remained remarkably unchanged — a steady presence at Fairfield’s central intersection.
In August 2017, Christa purchased the building from the Esdens, who ran a country store, antique, and floral shop.
Christa began restoring it with her husband over the course of 7 years — carefully bringing the structure back to life while honoring its integrity.
The goal was never to reinvent it, but to steward it forward — so it could serve the town and local community again.
Today, The Brick Store continues to evolve.
It is now home to events, creative work, coworking, and a 1918 antique letterpress that remains part of its living story. The building retains its setting, materials, and feeling — still grounded in its past, still active in the present.
Nearly 200 years later, the name remains the same in historical records and in everyday conversation: The Brick Store.
If you have a date or an idea in mind, start with a simple inquiry. Once we review the details, we’ll confirm availability and next steps. We often write back within a few hours, and on events that require a little more thought, please allow 2 – 3 business days to hear back. Thank you!
