No matter how much time you spend on the Cape, taking some souvenirs home with you is always a priority. Many times, you’ll have loved ones waiting for a gift purchased on your vacation, while in other situations, you’ll want something to commemorate your trip.
Of course, you could visit any souvenir shop on the Cape to pick up a t-shirt or shot glass with the words “Cape Cod” written on it, but very few of those items are actually made here. For an authentic Cape Cod souvenir, finding a local shop selling handmade goods is essential.
One such location in Truro is Jobi Pottery, a store and art gallery selling retro-style pottery designs and local art that’s sure to capture your attention.
Here’s a look at everything you should know about Jobi Pottery and why it’s worth a stop on your Cape Cod vacation.
About the Shop
Jobi Pottery has a long history on the Cape, as it first opened its doors in 1953. At that time, friends Joe Colliano and Bill Hastings, known as the Jobis when you combine their first names, opened a small pottery shop in an old hot dog stand near the Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse.
When that area became the Cape Cod National Seashore in 1966, the duo was forced to relocate to North Truro. They later sold the business to Lee and Elizabeth Locke, who changed the name to Truro Crafters and continued to operate until 2002.
Jobi Pottery was out of business for about a year when current owner Susan Kurtzman resurrected it in 2003. She uses the same traditional designs that the Jobis used in the 1950s to create authentic, retro-styled pottery for all who want it.
Every item available at Jobi Pottery is created on-site by locals. The designs are painted freehand, and the pottery is then fired in the pottery barn. It doesn’t get more authentic than the creations available at this retailer.
Kurtzman has also added an art gallery to the business’ present-day location on Route 6 in Truro, so you can find a great item to bring home with you, even if you aren’t into the pottery. She curates new exhibitions seasonally and is even known to speak with local collectors about who they want to see featured at the gallery.
What You’ll Find There
There is a lot going on at Jobi Pottery, as Kurtzman is hard at work using the same methods, designs, and casting molds as the Jobis.
Available pottery items include mugs, pinch pots, plates, bowls, trays, clocks, butter dishes, vases, pitchers, and ornaments, to name a few. You can also grab some purely decorative pottery for your home.
The art gallery features creations by local artists like Ed Christie, Heather Blume, Nancy Bloom, Milton Wright, Warren Green, Elizabeth Lazeren, and Garrow Throop. Many paintings depict scenes from the Cape, so have a look around for locations you’ve visited during your travels.
Where Else You Can Buy
Jobi Pottery’s storefront is relatively easy to reach, but there are some other places you can grab some pottery or artwork, too. While these spots won’t have as much selection, they might be more convenient for some visitors.
In Provincetown, you can pick up some pottery at the Pilgrim Monument, the Provincelands Visitors’ Center, or the Provincetown General Store. Items are also available at the Salt Pond Visitors Center Gift Shop in Eastham, Truro Vineyard, Oceana in Orleans, and Gathering at Home in Dennis.
Off-Cape, 13 Forest Gallery in Arlington, Massachusetts, is also an option.
Of, if you aren’t comfortable flying or traveling with your pottery, you can order items online through the Jobi Gallery website.
A Cape Cod Institution
Souvenirs are everywhere on the Cape, but there’s something special about picking up an item from an authentic Cape Cod original. All the pottery at Jobi Pottery is made on-site, and the designs are painted freehand, too, adding to their originality.
In fact, it’s safe to say that every item sold at Jobi Pottery is one-of-a-kind and that anything you purchase will immediately become one of your favorite ceramics.
Jobi Pottery has been an institution on Cape Cod since the early 1950s, and the fact that the same techniques and casting molds the original owners used are still in operation adds to its incredible allure.
