MakerBot Wants to Print the Town Red ... and More

MakerBot, a global leader in desktop 3D printing, opened two new MakerBot retail stores including one in Greenwich, just in time for the holidays. 

The Greenwich MakerBot Store officially opened to the public on Nov. 22, and is the third MakerBot retail store in the nation. After the grand opening, the MakerBot retail stores offer then experience of the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer and the MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner, in addition to other 3D printed gifts and displays. MakerBot also opened an outlet in Boston.

“We are very excited to open two new MakerBot retail stores,” said Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot. “We opened our first MakerBot retail store last year because we wanted to provide a place where you could step inside the future and see, touch, and even smell 3D printing.” Pettis noted that the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer uses MakerBot PLA Filament, a bioplastic made from corn, that actually emits a pleasant scent when 3D printing and fills the MakerBot Store with the aroma of waffles or syrup.

The new MakerBot Stores feature printers that have been described as one of Time magazine’s Best Inventions of 2012, Popular Mechanics’ Editor’s Choice Award for Overall Winner - Best 3D Printer, a MAKE Magazine Best in Class Prosumer Fused-Filament 

According to the company, "Fabrication 3D Printer, the Best Consumer Printer at the 3D Printshow London, received a Popular Mechanics’ Product of the Year designation, a Gold Edison Award for Best Design, and was a Fast Company Innovation by Design Award Winner 2012.  

The MakerBot Digitize Desktop 3D Scanner, released this fall, was named a Popular Mechanics’ Breakthrough awardee and TechCrunch called the MakerBot Digitizer “Nearly Magic.”

The company is led by Jenny Lawton, a former Old Greenwich business woman and resident. Until recently, Lawton operated the Arcadia Cafe in Old Greenwich, and is the former owner of the now-defunect independent Just Books stores in Greenwich and Old Greenwich.  

In addition to The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop, 3D Printer and MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner also will be available at the MakerBot Store, as will MakerBot PLA and an assortment of ABS Filament, available in more than 30 colors.

The store also will offer:

• A MakerBot Gum Ball machine with a variety of MakerBot-made miniature 3D printed keepsakes to choose from – look for iconic Greenwich and Boston specialty-themed items
• Ongoing demonstrations by MakerBot 3D Design staff
• 3D project installations and window displays made on MakerBot Desktop 3D Printers.

MakerBot is a subsidiary of Stratasys, Ltd.