(Photo courtesy of MassLive) “The shops at Mill no. 5 have been a staple of Lowell life for over a decade.”
Maxwell Valin
Connector Editor
For over a decade, the shops and storefronts at Mill No. 5 have offered a one-of-a-kind experience to UMass Lowell students looking for fun in the heart of Mill City. Tucked away in the upper floors of an old mill building on Jackson Street, the variety of businesses that have thrived and provided a place for the Lowell community to strengthen and grow is only accessible via a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it elevator, adding an element of escapism and discovery to the experience. Now, after a recent and sudden announcement that the shops will all be closed at the end of January, the store owners and employees facing an uncertain future are trying to figure out what’s next.
On Thanksgiving Day, the owners of Mill No. 5 took to Instagram (@millno5) to break the news. “It is with extremely heavy hearts that we must announce that Mill No. 5 will close its doors [permanently] at the end of January 2025.” Information subsequently released that revealed the building would be donated to a charter school. The sudden nature of the announcement led to confusion for many patrons of the establishment. On Saturday, December 7th, The Connector visited and spoke to Mill No. 5 workers and store owners to get clarification on certain details.
Michelle Larned is the owner of 12 Paws Candy Company, a sweets shop that recently opened its doors in Mill No. 5 at the end of this past summer. When asked about the timeline of when she found out about the upcoming changes and when the information was made public, Larned noted that “the email came in at about 4:30, or 5:00 on the day before Thanksgiving, and then I woke up on Thanksgiving morning and saw it on all the social media.” This experience was not exclusive to Larned. Adam O’Donnell, owner of A Damn Shame Records, shared a similar story. “We did only find out on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving,” he recalled. “We were notified by the Mill’s owners that the mill operations would be ending at the end of January. And it was something that the owners tried to get in touch with each of us about before they sent out the official notice. That was the night before the news went public.”
In the wake of the news, many Lowell residents and UMass Lowell students banded together online to show their support of the mill’s shopowners by starting a petition to at least keep the stores alive on weekends. There was a deep gratitude for the petition’s existence expressed by Claire Mosenfelder, owner of Over the Spoon, who noted that “we deeply appreciate the show of support. I do not think it’s going to work. So if people wish to come to Mill No. 5, they need to get here before the end of January. It’s unfortunate… we would love to find some path to staying open.” While the petition is unlikely to make any sort of change, it currently sits at over 2,000 signatures—a testament to the desire of Lowell to preserve one of its favorite locations.
While Saturday nights typically bring the most foot traffic to shopping centers, this particular evening was extra busy, with dozens of shoppers coming by to show their support for their local businesses while they can. Moira Shaughnessy of Pop Cultured commented on the ways people can best help the owners and employees who face uncertainty by telling them to “just come in and shop. That’s the only thing we can do… it means a lot for people to just come in and try to support us because it’s been so much busier lately. I hear a lot of people coming in and saying ‘I’m so sorry about what’s happening,’ but really, just them being here… it means a lot.”
Though the coming closure was upsetting and disheartening, the people who have contributed their work and time to Mill No. 5 took some time to reminisce about their best memories. O’Donnell recalled that “I was a student at UMass Lowell myself … I’ve been here from the Mill’s very beginning, to now, its very end… I’ve always loved the idea of a place like this, where everyone can come together and enjoy what it has to offer.” Shaughnessy enjoyed sharing memories too. “I’ve met so many nice people, and gotten to know people I wouldn’t have known… I’ve made new friends, done different events, and people have helped me with advice about schooling… I was immediately met with so much positivity here.”
Looking ahead, those who work at Mill No. 5 are headed into uncertain territory where the future isn’t quite clear. For updates on the status of the businesses mentioned in this interview, and information on how to support their future endeavors, social media was mentioned by all as the best way to stay alert. For Michelle Larned’s 12 Paws Candy Company, one such option includes following @12pawscandycompany on Instagram. Claire Mosenfelder’s Over The Spoon can be found at @overthespoonMA. Adam O’Donnell, who is currently looking for a new location to move operations to, encourages you to follow @adamnshame_records. Moira Shaughnessy noted that Pop Cultured has both an Instagram (@shop_pop_cultured) and a Discord server (that can be accessed through Instagram).
Mill No. 5 will cease storefront operations at the end of January 2025.
