It all started in 1970.
The Glass Onion began as a shop full of colorful wonders from world travels, providing customers with distinctive treasures on Water Street.
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Today, the Glass Onion is a mélange of all its lives, with thoughtfully chosen home and garden accents, clothing for the breezy summers and the stormy seas, fine art, provisions, jewelry, and more.
The Glass Onion has been part of Block Island’s history since 1970, but the building itself dates back to 1924. Constructed from two fishing shacks relocated from Old Harbor, it initially operated as Milliken’s Barbershop, serving locals and visitors alike. In the years that followed, it briefly functioned as a fast-food spot before being transformed into the boutique it is today.
Decades later, it continues to welcome customers with a curated selection of goods that reflect the island's unique character and charm.
Our Team
The Glass Onion is shaped by the creativity, care, and shared laughter of a team that makes each day meaningful.
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We are truly grateful for the warmth, dedication, and joy this wonderful group of people bring into the shop each day.
We hope you can feel it too!
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The Glass Onion has been owned and cared for by Mary Anderson and her family since the 1990s. Her twin boys grew up with the shop as a second home, and were frequently found helping behind the cash register or in the back room building Legos in between bike rides, ice cream cones, and beach swims.
With the twins now grown, Mary and Ned continue to care for customers in the store they built together, with a dedicated staff by their side, a summer breeze drifting through the doors, and the everyday rhythms of Block Island all around them.
