Vermont Country Stores: More Than a Place to Buy Groceries

Dear Vermonter,

Small town life has its advantages and disadvantages. To my mind, one of the great advantages of living in a small town is how well we know our neighbors. And one of the ways that we come together is through our country stores.

Unfortunately, too many country stores are now struggling to survive. 10 to 15 years ago, the Vermont Retail & Grocers Association counted about 250 across the state. Today, that number is down to around 95.

Despite serious challenges, many great stores across Vermont have found a way to keep going and serve their communities, and I want to celebrate some of them. Let’s start with learning a little bit more about Currier’s Quality Market in Glover:

You can find Currier’s right across the street from the Busy Bee Diner – another wonderful Northeast Kingdom institution. Jim Currier ran the market for over 50 years, making it well known for the hundreds of taxidermy pieces placed throughout the store and the photos lining the walls. In the Summer of 2020, the market was at risk of closing for good, but Jim was able to pass it on to its current owners Ray Sweeney, who worked for Jim when he was a kid, and his wife, Jessica.

There are many other country stores out there which are important to their communities. This is an important part of rural life that we want to continue to celebrate.

Click here to tell us about your favorite country store and why it’s so important to your community.

Sincerely,