Wilmington's Historic Sugartree Mill Co.

Sugartree Mill Co.

"Having that support from individuals locally... it makes you appreciate being in a small town and... the whole environment kind of makes you feel like you're in a Hallmark movie but in the best way possible," said Joanna Swenson, Manager and Merchandiser at Sugartree Mill Co., located at 316 E Sugartree Street. Swenson was born and raised in Wilmington, Ohio, by her parents, Randy and Diane Dell, the owners of Sugartree Mill Co. After college, Swenson started marketing for the mill and eventually moved to her position as manager.

The Sugartree Mill Co. building originated in 1881 as a flour mill, later became a storage space for a construction business, and then a recycling center. In the 1990s, the mill first became an antiques and home goods store. Almost thirty years later, the store's ownership transitioned to the Dells, and they named it Sugartree Mill Co. after its location and historic structure. The Dell family restored the building to its "historical roots" and focused on offering "timeless goods and antiques." Swenson stated, "Expect an old-fashioned shopping experience... Expect home goods thoughtfully sourced by us, but then also some fun treasures in the antique section... and expect to be here for at least an hour or two... Stroll through [and] enjoy seeing the product, but then also the original structure of the mill has a lot of rich history... Kind of just take it all in as an experience, not just a shopping excursion."

Sugartree Mill Co. offers a variety of home goods and also includes a"traditional antique mall section," where vendors source antiques and rent space in the mill. There is even a new products section featuring kitchenware, bath items, high-quality silk florals, candles, local honey, and more."Our goal was to have the mix of the old and new because that reflects a real home... Whenever possible we try to partner with small businesses that have products that we think would be a good fit," stated Swenson.

Their biggest challenge since purchasing the mill came during COVID, shortly after their opening in July of 2019. Joanna shared that the pandemic shutdown allowed them to restore one of the original brick arches in the building.

To learn more, visit sugartreemill.com.