You know you’re in Maine when you drive by a store and the sign out front reads, “Guns, Wedding Gowns, Cold Beer.” It’s not a wedding reception straight out of a Stephen King novel – residents of Windsor actually see that sign every time they drive past Hussey’s General Store, one of many stores in Maine that offer anything and everything and survive despite pressure from competing national mega-stores. At Hussey’s, Lou McNally talks with third generation owner Jay Hussey, employee Lou Jones (who’s worked there for 40 years, since before his boss was even born) and Roxanne Hussey, whose grandmother introduced wedding gowns and formal wear to the business back in 1955.
Then it’s off to Norway to visit an old-fashioned hardware store, the kind with the dark, creaky hardwood floors and a veteran staff that actually knows how to install the things they sell. L.M. Longley & Sons has been a fixture on Main Street in Norway for over 100 years, and they continue to thrive despite the presence of a Wal-Mart store in neighboring Oxford. Owner John Longley talks about how his family operation has stayed in business all these years.
In the same vein, Made in Maine visits North Creek Farm in Phippsburg, where Kai Jacob and Suzy Verrier sell “everything from brassieres to hamburger meat.” The farm also features a plant nursery specializing in unusual roses and perennials—all organically grown. The key to their success, says Jacob, is constantly refining their inventory and conveying their enthusiasm about unique products to their customers. If you ever have a recipe that calls for 18 pounds of locally made butter – as one customer did – North Creek Farms in Phippsburg is the place for you.
