CAMP ELLIS – Friends, neighbors, and the community at large gathered Thursday morning, June 1 for a big, joyous ribbon cutting to mark the official opening of the Camp Ellis General Store & Lobster Pound.

Closed for a time, the landmark store, at 23 Main Ave., was recently purchased by Kim Smith and her husband Ray, who live just a street or two away in the seaside community in Saco.

They first opened the store on Mother’s Day, and began early-season hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday on Memorial Day weekend – when, said Kim, business was so brisk, they ran out of everything. She said hours and days will expand  as the summer progresses. The business will be seasonal, with a view to closing after Indigenous People’s Day weekend, which winds down Oct. 9.

The store offers house-made breakfast sandwiches, coffee and cold drinks like water, soda, and beer; along with wine, T-shirts, sunscreen, snacks, juice, propane, campfire wood, and the ever-popular hot weather treat, Richie’s Italian Ice. Soon, a tank will sport live lobsters which Kim will cook for those pining for Maine’s most popular and tasty crustacean. And she plans some other “grab and go” items too, like cold sub sandwiches people can take with them to the beach.

“I love people, and my husband and I love this community,” said Kim.

 The couple have two sons, Jackson and Joshua, who along with Joshua’s girlfriend Sophia Shenian, have helped her and Ray, who works in the bridge construction industry, open the business. She said the boys have told her, “This is Mom’s gig.”

Kim said when she and her family first moved to the community four years ago, the store was operating, but in the ensuing years that changed. So, when the property came up for auction, Kim, who previously worked 30 years in the restaurant industry, dove in.

The Smith family spruced up the place, and the community pitched in.

“On the day we closed on the property, March 21, I came in with new paint and the neighbors came in behind me,” she said, cleaning, painting and doing other tasks, helping to get the space in shape.

The owners of Huot’s Seafood Restaurant, down near the pier, were a big help, said Kim and Ray, assisting the couple in navigating the licensing process and with vendors for food and beverages.

At the grand opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday, folks gathered to celebrate.

“We’re so excited about this,” said neighbor Bernice Kehoe. “It brings so much life to the community.”

“I’m thrilled to have a community store,” said another local resident. “It brings the community together.”

There has been a general store – this general store -  in Saco’s Camp Ellis community for many years. In 1907, it was located on Camp Ellis Avenue, a longtime resident said. By 1910, the building had been moved to its current location on Main Avenue – as evidenced by photos of the wider community taken that time by Stephen Bean, said resident Sally Otazo, a relative of Bean.

An old photo dating to those early days is propped on the counter, and shows a man and a woman standing on the porch. A sign, somewhat obscured by an electric pole, reads, in part, “Q. Sawyer, cash grocer.” A sign for Tip Top bread advises the product “T’will do your heart good.” Another sign in the photo boasts Kellogg’s Toasted Corn Flake. The photo may have been taken by Bean, but appears unsigned.

 

The Camp Ellis General Store & Lobster Pound is now officially open - but it has been around, in various forms - and at least two locations, for more than 115 years. This old photo, which shows the store when it was called Sawyer's Cash Grocer,  is thought to have been taken in the early part of the 1900s. COURTESY PHOTO

As well as a store, at one time, the large building also sported a restaurant, now vacant, and the Smith family has plans to create a spacious rental unit there.

On Thursday, people gathered inside, drinking coffee and sampling cookies or sat outside at picnic tables, chatting.

Then it was time to cut the ribbon.

Ray Smith thanked those from the city government for coming, the Huot restaurant owners for their assistance, “and everyone in this community for their support.”

“We feel committed to this community,” said Ray. “We feel the jetty and erosion issue will turn around and brighter days are coming.”

Saco Economic Development Director Tracey Desjardins said the city, along with the community, is glad that the Camp Ellis General Store & Lobster Pound is open for business.

“This is bringing an icon back,” said Desjardins. “This general store has been part of the community for many years and to see it running again is a great asset to Camp Ellis.”

For more information, visit: campellisgeneralstore.com.

Story by Tammy Wells, freelance writer.