Oysterman’s Daughter

CLIENT: OYSTERMAN’S DAUGHTER
DETAILS: INTERIOR DESIGN, GRAPHIC PROGRAM, VISUAL MERCHANDISING LOCATION: NORWALK, CONETICUT
PHOTOGRAPHY: SEAN LITCHFIELD

HUXHUX Design Inc. was commissioned by Copps Island Oysters to design their retail shop and headquarters in Norwalk and Brown’s Marina, Connecticut. From the beginning, it was clear this project was far more than a storefront. It offered an opportunity to create a platform for environmental education and stewardship.

In early conversations with Norm Bloom, the owner and operator of Copps Island Oysters, he described himself as a “blind farmer,” tending underwater fields he cannot see but knows intimately. His vision was to help visitors understand the multigenerational legacy behind his family’s work and the ecological importance of healthy oyster beds.

With that guiding idea, our approach focused on designing a space that enables the Copps Island team to share the environmental benefits of sustainable aquaculture. Over the decades, the Bloom family has collected an impressive archive of oystering tools, antiques, and memorabilia that reflect their deep connection to the sea. They often host school groups and guided tours at their headquarters, and they challenged us to create a retail environment with a greater purpose.

At its core, the shop functions as a direct-to-consumer outlet for oysters, clams, lobsters, and other seafood. Yet it also offers culinary tools, home goods, and storytelling elements that connect customers to the broader ecosystem behind each product. The design invites visitors to learn, explore, and appreciate the traditions and natural cycles that define the brand.

We also completed the buildout of their second location in Stratford, Connecticut, with additional sites planned along the Long Island Sound. Each location reinforces a shared narrative that the future of coastal living depends on honoring heritage while investing in regenerative practices.

This project is more than a shop. It is a coastal experience that celebrates tradition, sustainability, and the quiet beauty of shoreline life. Through thoughtful design, HUXHUX helped shape a space where education, heritage, and commerce work together to support a healthier future for our oceans.


 

Exterior of a charming cafe with blue siding, colorful buoys, and a sign labeled 'The Oysterman's Daughter.' There's a small porch with railings and yellow outdoor tables and chairs on the pavement.
Isometric illustration of a modern restaurant design with blue and yellow color scheme, showing indoor and outdoor seating, tables, and human figures.
Nautical-themed shop interior with blue and white striped walls, hexagonal blue floor tiles, display counter, pendant lights, merchandise including tote bags, and a refrigerated display case.
Interior of a boutique shop with a coastal theme, featuring clothing racks, shelves with folded apparel, nautical decor, and a price menu for seafood on the wall. There’s a textured green and blue wall hanging, pendant lighting, and various baskets and display tables with merchandise.
White metal chandelier with intricate design hanging from a ceiling with recessed lights.
Hanging spherical glass lanterns with rope netting against a blurred background.
Isometric 3D rendering of a restaurant interior layout, featuring dining tables, a booth, a counter area, and an outdoor seating section with plants and umbrellas.
Interior of a modern retail store with clothing and home decor items displayed on a central table and shelves. The walls feature framed pictures, and there is a decorative hanging installation made of dark blue and green materials. The ceiling is white with unique light fixtures, and the floor has hexagonal blue tiles.
Interior of a seafood-themed store with vintage oyster cans, a model boat, framed nautical maps, lobster tank, and cloth items in baskets.
A retail store interior with a display of clothing and accessories. Hoodies and t-shirts hang on racks, while folded items and books are on shelves. Two spherical pendant lights hang from the ceiling. The walls have a unique, textured design, resembling hanging fabric or seaweed. A rack holds rolled towels, and a large clamshell display holds colorful socks on the bottom shelf.
Abstract light sculpture with hanging lights and netted orbs in a contemporary interior setting.
Close-up of hanging yarn bundles in various shades of blue and green.
A boutique display with yellow walls featuring beach-themed merchandise, including shirts, pillows, baskets with stuffed animals, and accessories. Blue and green fabric decor hangs from the top.
Close-up of blue yarn strands hanging with blurred shop background featuring yellow walls and shelves with folded clothes and items.
Interior of a boutique store with folded clothing, towels, and shelves displaying various products. A round mirror and framed photos are on the white shiplap walls. Blue hexagonal floor tiles and wicker baskets with rolled towels are visible.
Bathroom with a nautical theme, featuring a white sink on a marble countertop, a round porthole mirror, and walls decorated with colorful oyster brand labels.
Wall display with a nautical-themed blue porthole mirror at the top. Below it, there are shelves holding five white bottles and several jars labeled "VESSL." A VESSL branded sign is also present on the middle shelf.