Amber Champagne-Matos and Tony Matos brought their Westfield business Champagne Apothecary to the Big E this year due to the Front Porch concept that is designed for small local businesses. (Jeanette DeForge/Republican staff)

WEST SPRINGFIELD -- For the next three weekends Tina D’Agostino will be bringing her floral arrangements, potted succulents and mini-Halloween pumpkins to the Eastern States Exposition as part of the Front Porch area that is attracting a host of local and new businesses to the Big E.

“As a one-person shop, it’s unfathomable that I could be here for 17 days, said D’Agostino, who owns the Westfield-based Blooms, a flower truck that operates on the same concept as a food truck.

The Front Porch is almost made for her business. Instead of being required to be there all 17 days, multiple businesses like hers will take turns selling their products this year.

D’Agostino is unique because her booth operates out of her truck. She initially had planned to be there for the three Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of the fair and drive away during the week, but realized the logistics of moving her van was too much so it will stay. Her business so far has been so busy she figures she will open on Thursdays and maybe some other days as well.

“We were looking for innovative ways to bring new shopping experiences to the Big E,” said Noreen Tassinari, marketing director. “It is an opportunity for local businesses to be part of the Big E on a smaller scale and to see if they can work it into their business plan.”

The Front Porch is an about 30,000 square-foot area with four spots for food vendors and 20 for retailers. It also includes an area with a cornhole game and Adirondack chairs set up so people can hang out, have a bite to eat and just relax before they go on to check out the agriculture exhibits, do more shopping or check out the Avenue of States which are all offered at New England’s largest fair.

Sunday, the third day of the fair, brought warm temperatures and sunny skies but the popular Springfield Puerto Rican parade may have competed for some of the audience. Tassinari said the day brought a steady but not record-breaking crowd of 84,981,

Last year while the fair was rebuilding after a 2020 COVID-19 shutdown, officials put out a survey asking people for very specific information about what additions they would like to see for the 2022 Big E. Employees from all the departments then got together to discuss results and the Front Porch was born, Tassinari said.

Matthew Green, chef for BoardWok Noodles cooks chicken at the Big E. The restaurant is one of about two dozen located in the new Front Porch at the fair. (Jeanette DeForge/Republican staff)

One of the benefits of having rotating vendors at the Front Porch is Big E fans who attend the fair multiple times will see new businesses every time they go, she said.

Exposition staff worked a lot with Feel Good Shop Local, an online platform that serves as a clearing house to help promote local businesses and help residents find local goods and services they need or want and to buy them online.

“It is incredible exposure. We have been able to talk to so many people and it’s been fun,” said Amber Champagne-Matos, a licensed esthetician and clinical herbalist.

She and her husband Tony Matos decided to close down their Westfield store Champagne Apothecary for the 17 days of the fair and moved into one of the wooden huts at the Front Porch and turn it into a mini store.

While they haven’t been able to move everything, like their full coffee and tea station and games and puzzles area that makes up their businesses’ concept of self-care, they are able to feature a new skincare line Champagne-Matos released this summer and has been developing for three years. They also featured soaps, candles, essential oils and many other products they sell.

Champagne-Matos also served as emcee for the Front Porch, making announcements telling people a little about the concept of the collection of shops from Connecticut and Massachusetts that are located nearby.

About 45-minutes away in Manchester, Conn. Paul Allen and his wife Maeghan Aberdale-Allen signed up to run their business Collectibles and Cards at the Big E for the first seven days of the fair. On Sunday, as New England beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, Patriots hats, socks and even Christmas stockings were selling fast.

Allen said he had worked at the Big E for a friend in the past. When he learned about the Front Porch he thought it would be a good way to bring his business to the fair.

“We are thinking of coming here permanently and this is a way to try it out,” he said.

New restaurant BoardWok Noodles was also serving up noodle and rice bowls at the Front Porch attracting a good-sized line. Locally owned SoulFully Vegan, The Place 2 Be and Granville Cheese rounded out the food selections.

Owners Wendy and Chris Bayle said they live in Cleveland but have no permanent restaurant, they bring their business from fair to fair across the country serving their meals that feature fresh meat and vegetables.

“I think what they did with this Front Porch area is fantastic. It gives a lot of small businesses an opportunity,” Chris Bayle said, adding he hasn’t seen a concept like this anywhere else.

Tina D'Agostino, owner of Blooms flower truck, of Westfield, sells her flowers and plants at the new Front Porch at the Big E. (Jeanette DeForge/Republican staff)

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022).

© 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.

Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.