HALLOWELL — A new market opened Friday next door to the defunct Boynton’s Market — just in time for today’s Old Hallowell Day celebration.
At The Market, managed by Sam Estes, of Hallowell, bread and wine rest on antique tables, a modern cash register sits atop an old glass-and-wooden display case, and a well-worn rug spreads across narrow floor boards.
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The furnishings come from the adjacent antique store, J. Fitzgerald. Both The Market and the antique shop are owned by Jeanne Langsdorf, who said she put on a full-court press to open the grocery store within eight days.
“I think that Hallowell has had a huge loss since Boynton’s closed in February, and that compounded with the death of Karen Buck (who formerly ran Boynton’s) was the impetus for me two weeks ago to say someone needs to do it, and I just did it,” Langsdorf said.
The results were evident Friday in the amazed looks of friends and neighbors who are also customers.
“I’m absolutely awestruck,” said Nancy Schiff-Slater, of Hallowell, who stopped in Friday on her way to work. “She told me this was going to do this in a week. When Jeanne Langsdorf says she will do something, she does it.”
Attorney Stephen Langsdorf, Jeanne’s husband, helped shepherd through the necessary permit applications, including ones filed with the Department of Agriculture, the beer and wine and tobacco license and the victualer’s license from the city.
“The state agencies were extremely cooperative about acting quickly,” he said. “There’s a bit of a different tone with the state agencies these days.”
On opening day, Tim Day, of Hallowell, was handling the cash register and helping check inventory. A Pine State Trading Company van was being unloaded via hand truck, and customers were buying newspapers, water and lottery tickets.
Tall refrigerated cases held sodas, milk, eggs, and other staples. A long freezer case at the back was stocked with ice cream pints and frozen novelties as well as some Oakland farms beef. “I want to make it local and also affordable,” Jeanne Langsdorf said.
Some of the fixtures still bore the price tags.
“This is Hallowell. We’re aiming for our citizens and keeping an eclectic look so it is Hallowell,” Jeanne Langsdorf said.
A big “open” flag flies from a holder next to the door, and Estes said advertisements are in the newspaper.
The first dollar in revenue — from Richard Marsano — is tacked up behind the register.
The market staffers are planning a large presence in today’s parade.
Langsdorf said she’s hoping to add a local delivery service for people who need it, including those in the nearby Cotton Mill Apartments.
“The demographic for employees has been unemployed college students,” Langsdorf said, and in fact, one of Estes’ responsibilities is to find his own replacement. The finance major heads back to the University of Maine in the fall.
Summer hours at the market are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The phone number is 623-8003.
The opening of The Market comes as efforts to reopen Boynton’s — a fixture in the city since 1936 — foundered.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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