CONCORD, Vt. (WCAX) – Many Vermonters rely on small general stores to pick up odds and ends and meet neighbors. Despite their small size, there can be a big impact when they close. One business owner in Concord is trying to return a small store to its former glory.
An old convenience store is coming back to the town of Concord.
“When I moved here, it wasn’t here, so I never expected a store to be here at all,” said Bill Long. who moved to the area three years ago. He says it’s quiet and there’s plenty of space for him to ride his bike. But something is missing — a local general store. “If I run out of milk or something like that, it would be nice to not have to go very far.”
What used to be Barnie’s Market has been sitting vacant for the last four years. Town officials say the store was forced to close during the pandemic but that locals have been working to bring something back.
Local business owner Spencer Hudson says decided to take on the project to help his community. “I grew up in the town of Concord, so this is a local community store for me as well as for the community, which is exciting to see it come back. It was kind of a staple for the town. It was a good store in its day,” he said.
Hudson says it will be a million-dollar project to bring back the store and gas station, and local officials are relieved to see the community space come back. “I think the store is something that really brings the town together. The sheer convenience of just being able to shop locally. Go down, get a newspaper, get a coffee. You see the same people every morning,” said Concord Selectboard member Chris Four.
Hudson says the new store, Concord Station, should be open by July 4.