Shops of Olde Marco

The Shops of Olde Marco: Much more than just the spirit of shopping
By Tom Williams
Published on: 6/5/2009

When modern Marco was young and the Mackle Brothers were developing 'The Last Paradise,' the Shops of Olde Marco Village were created in 1972 and became an instantly popular. Everyone from television and film stars, such as Kate Jackson and James Garner, explored the little cobbled cove of shops and restaurants, and whenever the Marco Beach Hotel was filled with political dignitaries or sports icons for the Tony Lema golf tournament, all the visiting celebrities found their way down to Olde Marco for the essence of what an island paradise was all about.

At the Shops of Olde Marco today there is not only a fresh produce market, a gourmet restaurant, eclectic and unique gifts from 'Sweet Pea,' art by Melinda Trick and shining inspiration by In the Light, but something else might be afoot after the Olde Marco shopping village settles in for the night.

'We even have a ghost,' explained Kathleen Douglas, of the art gallery Amantea. 'Once, when Bronwyn, the Australian sail maker was working late into the evening, when everyone else was closed and away, the seamstress saw a dark and unnatural shadow pass by her door and then, a few moments later, she felt an invisible arm grip her around the shoulders. After that night, she never worked late again.

'Most of us have had strange things happen,' Douglas continued. 'I remember leaving for the evening and locking the d