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Many Hands Contribute To Renovating The Store

Transforming an 18th-century, historic building into the modern equivalent of a country store would seem a daunting task to most people. If you had spoken with those who did the job, you'd have soon learned that it took a combination of destiny, timing and teamwork to make it all happen. Meddy Woodyard and Tom Masone, the current storekeepers, hope that the store will continue to play the role of gathering place, community center and general store.
 

Old-Fashioned Teamwork

Treating the outside of The Store, as much as possible, as a historic restoration, it was realized that the inside had to be renovated to accommodate the modern services required to run a first-class food operation. Besides, it was important, especially to the residents of South Williamstown who rely on the store, to keep it open and operating throughout the entire renovation.

Jim LeCasse, of Maple Hill Associates in Bennington, Vermont was hired to be general contractor and, along with a number of subcontractors, began working on the project in late March 1992. Jim was an obvious choice because the building and site had some unique problems. Jim characterizes himself and crew of eight as "problem solvers."

A Vermont native and resident, Jim LeCasse got into construction about 20 years ago by apprenticing with the late South Williamstown builder, Bill McGraw. "He taught me about the business," recalled LeCasse.


 
Some of the people who helped to renovate The Store. Some of the people who helped to renovate The Store.
 
"The best way to describe an old building like this is that it's like a canyon. The deeper you go, the further into the past you'll be," explained LeCasse. The building is practically a historic record of building techniques over the last 230 years. From rough bark timbers of the 18th-century to hand-hewn, and then to sawed wood of today.

"During demolition we found old things like newspapers from the late 1800s and a Taconic Lumber receipt totaling $20. You'd have to add a couple more zeros today," quipped LeCasse. What wasn't salvageable was removed from the site by LCS Rubbish Removal of Williamstown.
 

Specialists Arrived

Once demolition was complete, a group of specialists arrived like Joe West of West Oil Co. "It was a challenge to remove the old, antiquated system, but replacing it with a topnotch, very reliable heating plant and hot-water system was smooth sailing," remarked West, an expert in sophisticated heating systems. His family-owned business stresses personal service. They also supply fuels, including diesel for many South Williamstown farms.

Plumbing was handled by Bill Moncecchi from Adams and the duct work, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems were installed by Pariseau Heating, Cooling & Refrigeration from Pittsfield. All of these systems, including electrical, needed to be replaced while the store remained opened 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Usually we come in, do our work and then the business opens" commented LeCasse, "but in this case we had to work around an ongoing concern. Actually, it made it fun. We got to meet the customers. They learned to trust us as they walked under our scaffolding."

Many mornings Dave Rickert, of Rickert Electric in Williamstown, was the first to let customers know what coffee was being brewed for that day. "Dave loves his coffee and doughnuts, especially doughnuts," kidded LeCasse. Actually, Rickert had his work cut out for him. All electrical service, even while being replaced, had to be operational so that the store could continue to serve its steady stream of customers.
 

More Than Just A Building

The Store gets a facelift. The physical renovation of the building was only one big task facing the remodelers. There were also many business details to work out and, most importantly, the store was to be stocked with the widest variety of quality, reasonably priced merchandise available.
 

An "Effort of Joy"

Researching, sourcing and testing products for The Store was an "effort of joy." We taste literally hundreds of foods, most wines and beverages and follow many recipes in our search for quality and value, Meddy Woodyard and Tom Masone point out. To help find and acquire all of the products that a general store needs takes the knowledge and help of people like Alex Vickowski from Alca Distributing Co., Jeff Polep from J. Polep Distribution Services and Charles Alberston of Western Snacks Corp. Vickowski, in the business for over 37 years, keeps the store stocked with sundries, health and beauty aids. Everything from toothpaste to suntan lotion. He sees to it that The Store is never out of supply and that all items are fresh.

Charley Albertson specializes in snack foods, the healthy ones and the ones we just love to eat. Pretzels, chips, tortillas, popcorns - if you want it, he'll get it. Jeff Polep operates one of the largest distribution services in New England and supplies The Store with dairy, deli and candy products and much more. Because of his computer and delivery systems, The Store's order can be processed that evening and delivered the next day.

Another distributor, Chex Finer Foods, handles specialty food products for 'better-quality independents." Products like gourmet candy bars, preserves from France and domestic and imported pastas, sauces and salsa.
 

Products from Around the World
and Down the Block

In many cases The Store buys directly from the manufacturer. Sometimes it's from well-known companies like Boar's Head Provisions, Paul deLima Coffee and Vermont Bread Co. Other times it's from "discoveries" like Inn Maid Foods and Sloan Tavern Mustard, which is located literally down the block from The Store.

Boars Head, from New York City, supplies the deli with all-natural - no fillers, preservatives or additives - meats for sandwiches, franks and the full line of cold cuts. They've been making the finest quality meat products since 1905. Watch for their distinctive gilt-lettered truck.

The founders of Vermont Bread Co. in Brattleboro, Vermont were told 12 years ago that all-natural breads, without preservatives, couldn't be done. Fortunately for bread lovers they didn't listen and created a great line of breads, including English muffins and pitas available at The Store.

Paul deLima Co., from Syracuse, N.Y., has been importing, roasting and blending gourmet coffees for over three generations. Their "Special Reserve" coffees at The Store are blended especially for "New England taste buds," according to Peter Miller. "You'd be surprised at how much tastes vary around the country. New Englanders prefer a more full-bodied, refined coffee than the rest of the country."

Some products don't travel as far as coffees to got to The Store. If you are from the area you'll know and love Sloan Tavern Mustard created by locals Carolyn Umlauf and Michelle Thaisz just a stone's throw from The Store. If you're visiting, don't leave without some of their hearty New England mustards. Another Berkshire-made product in The Store is granola from Inn Maid Foods of Lenox, Mass. Kevin and Barbara Kirshner wanted to create a "good-tasting" granola when they were innkeepers in Connecticut. Now they offer a healthy and good-tasting line of granolas that kids especially love.
 

To Quench Your Thirst

Not too long ago your choices of cold, non-alcoholic beverages were between a few big-name brands and tap water. With the help of distributors like Fahey Beverage and North Country Natural, The Store has many varieties and flavors of drinks - soft drinks, juices, non-alcoholic beers, and spring waters - to choose from. Dana Sprague, from North Country Natural in Brattleboro, Vt., supplies The Store with natural beverages, like Mad River Sodas and Knudsen Spritzers, and many made-in-New England products. Fahey Beverage from Pittsfield delivers beers - domestic, imported and non-alcoholic - and a great new soda called Sioux City.
 

Tools of The Trade

Vital to operating, The Store is being equipped with the best kitchen and food preparation equipment. Here's where Globe Equipment from Albany, N.Y., comes in supplying and servicing scales, slicing machines and more.

Another machine whose product many people can't live without is supplied by Calico Cottage Candies the "Fudge Kitchen." The Store makes delicious, fresh butter-and-cream fudge every day to satisfy all of us sweet tooths.