BELHAVEN— The newest shopping destination in Belhaven, Market 32, offers a wide selection of artistic merchandise from local artists as well as locally baked goods and locally grown fruits and vegetables.

According to owner Nicole O’Neal, the store used to be O’Neal’s Drug Store, which was started by her husband’s grandfather in 1932. O’Neal did not want to see the building remain empty and wants to see the town flourish.

“That’s where the name ‘Market 32’ came from,” said O’Neal. “We are trying to build Belhaven, so I just thought it would be a good opportunity to do something me and my husband have always talked about doing.”

According to O’Neal, the store sells a wide range of items, including artwork and photography.

“I’m an artist so I just appreciate art,” said O’Neal. “I enjoy painting and having a storefront. I wanted to give other people a chance to share their art and their visions with the community.”

O’Neal said she displays the work of commissioned artists, including a woman who makes all sorts of nautical goods.

“She makes a lot of her items,” O’Neal said. “She lived in Hatteras and she moved back here — she has family here — and she was scared to open a gift shop in the area. Then she heard that we did this. It allowed her to open a store without the overhead.”

The store also has a women’s boutique and a produce market that offers fresh produce and flowers, according to O’Neal. There is also a selection of baked goods from a local baker.

“She supplies us with homemade bread,” O’Neal said. “We have so many handmade items.”

O’Neal said that she allows these local artisans, growers and bakers to display and sell their items at minimal rent and does not seek to make a profit on them.

“I literally do it not to make money on the rent or anything,” O’Neal said. “I wanted to make it so that people would be able to do it. I just kind of do it enough to just help pay my expenses on the rent and everything.”

Market 32 is located at 292 East Main Street in downtown Belhaven.