Finishing the big parts
The store itself, the middle room and the public restroom are essentially completed – whew – and the kitchen + seating area are screaming towards the finish line! The kitchen will be painted this week-end AND THEN we can apply for an inspection; a 7-10 day wait, then another few days for the store license then another few days for the beer and wine license. It’s a process. But it all adds up to say that it looks like we might hit our target opening before September ends! CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO SEE THEM LARGER.
We’ve written this before and we’ll say it again, we as store owners cannot thank the building owners, the Canterbury Community Market LLC, enough for embracing our vision and actually doing it, both in concept and by rolling up their sleeves. Yes, pros have been hired for big parts of this build but everyone needs to know that the management team themselves have rolled up their sleeves to build and scrub and paint and haul and move junk…along with a myriad of volunteers that supported them. Everyone is tired but it is the Canterbury way to pitch in and get the job done. Thank you!
On our end, this week we finished most all of our personal construction and painting sans a few details that will come at the last. We are spending our time now meeting with food and beverage suppliers, ordering, receiving inventory, bookkeeping, practicing food recipes, making product for the shelves and calculating placement for all merchandise. We also have continued to meet with artisans to stock the gift section and are working with new staff members to get ready. We are practicing bakers and farmers hours of rising at 3-4am to get it all in. CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO SEE THEM LARGER.
It has always been our vision that the store acts like a hub in Canterbury, and we know that historically it has been that, so part of our fun during this summer has been to envision how this will all connect. Some early examples: the library and the store have ordered the same picture hanging system so we can share parts, the store is mounting its first community art show upon opening connecting all ages and skill levels, it is connected to the town Halloween celebration to act as a month long beacon, it is providing a showcase for our Canterbury food makers, artisans and the historical society, it has connected with outside groups to come to Canterbury… this is just beginning of a whole lot of fun for us all. We are REALLY excited.
Our first community art show, “What Lurks in the Woods” will be on the walls when we open.
The community gathering space and seating/eating area – The Feed Loft – will have art hung through out the year to showcase NH artisans. The concept is to have a space where folks can strut their stuff and, in turn, the walls will constantly surround us with engaging color while we sip our coffee or eat our sandwich. The part we love best is that we will show all ages and skill levels together tied together by a tight theme that makes them visually coherent. Here is a sneak peak at some of the work that will be on the walls when we open..
We could still take your entry too. Read about it by clicking here and download the entry form.
A little bit about food…
What we eat can be a controversial subject akin to religion and politics. But health and the joy of flavor should be important to all of us. Tradition plays a big part of eating as well; the comfort of mom’s canned cream of mushroom casserole or the Sunday gathering over a garden harvest. Personally, we embrace it all.
The one thing we are trying to think about when we stock the grocery shelves for opening is to encompass all of our tastes but do it in the most healthy way possible. Quality matters. We hope you will find the comfort of familiar branded tastes and the joy of flavors yet to be discovered.
Cheers from Jane and Dave
Canterbury Country Store 