Featured member Brown Paper Packages is a gift shop that represents both a small business success story and a celebration of locally made products. Owned by Alyssa Schoenfeld, with support from her husband Mike, the store specializes in carefully curated gifts and goods created by small makers, many of whom are women business owners from across New England.

From Boston Food Tours to a Bethlehem Boutique

Before opening Brown Paper Packages, Alyssa built her career in Boston as the founder of Bites of Boston Food Tours, a company she started in 2011 that offered walking tours featuring neighborhood restaurants and chefs. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, her thriving business was suddenly halted. She recalled, “Three days into covid, I was like, I’m not going to make it. Just staying in the house, not interacting with other people, is just not something I do well.”

To stay engaged and support other small businesses, Alyssa began curating gift boxes filled with locally made products. She reached out to Boston-area makers to create boxes that included both edible treats and artisan goods such as candles, soaps, and lotions. Each box told the story of its makers, echoing the storytelling element that had made her food tours so personal.

As the gift box side of her business grew, Alyssa found herself increasingly drawn to the creative process of product curation and collaboration. “I just love what’s happening with the gift boxes and getting to know some of these other local makers, most of whom are also females, women owned businesses,” she explained.

When she learned that a retail building in Bethlehem was available, Alyssa saw an opportunity to transition her growing e-commerce idea into a permanent, in-person experience. The result was Brown Paper Packages, a shop that invites customers to explore handmade, high-quality goods in a warm and welcoming setting.

A Thoughtful Shopping Experience

Brown Paper Packages opened to the public in December 2024, with its soft opening on December 6 and its official debut on December 7, aligning with the town’s annual Christmas in Bethlehem celebration. The shop’s hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. or noon to around 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., and Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Alyssa’s philosophy for the shop centers on careful curation. She explained, “Everything in the store is something that I would either use, eat, or decorate my own house with.” Rather than carrying entire product lines, she selects her favorite pieces from each maker, ensuring that every item feels personal and intentional.

Many of the artisans she features do not have their own storefronts, and Alyssa takes pride in giving their work a platform. Her store showcases a variety of handmade and small-batch products that reflect New England’s creativity and craftsmanship. She also provides gift-wrapping services, helping customers turn their selections into ready-to-give packages. “I have some gift boxes that are available in the store that just have, you know, when I see things that look nice together, I want to put them into a little collection,” she said. “I wrap it up nice and pretty in gift boxes that are available for sale.”

Finding Community in Bethlehem

The move to Bethlehem marked a new chapter for Alyssa and Mike, who previously lived in Windham, New Hampshire. They had long sought a stronger sense of community than they found in the southern part of the state. Alyssa explained that they often felt disconnected there, spending most of their time commuting to their jobs. Bethlehem offered exactly what they were looking for. “Moving to Bethlehem has certainly been everything we were hoping for in that regard. No matter where we go, the grocery store, any of the coffee shops or restaurants, you’re always running into somebody that you know,” she said.

The creative and small-business-friendly culture of the North Country has been another rewarding aspect of their move. Alyssa describes the area as a place full of people who “seem to have more or less done the same thing that we have at some point in their own lives, just decided that having more of a sense of community and connection to place was important to them – like it was to us.”

Looking Ahead for Brown Paper Packages

Alyssa continues to balance both her Bethlehem shop and her Boston-based food tour company, which she rebuilt with a team of guides and a new Director of Operations. Her next major goal for Brown Paper Packages is to expand its reach beyond the store’s walls. “Not yet, but that is in the works,” she said about online ordering. “Our plan is to have not only all the products that we have in the store available online, but also a series of gift boxes that will be available to purchase online as well.”

Brown Paper Packages reflects the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity that define the Littleton-Bethlehem area. Through her thoughtful selection of products and her dedication to community connection, Alyssa Schoenfeld has created a store that captures the joy of local craftsmanship and the meaning behind every handmade item.