Date: Fri 22-Mar-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

General-Store-Nimer

Full Text:

with cut: The Coffee Will Flow Again At The General Store

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Things haven't quite been the same along Main Street since the Newtown General

Store closed its doors two months ago. But there's good news for those who

frequented the historic store for their morning cup of coffee.

The bright red store, considered a meeting spot by many residents, is expected

to reopen next month now that Brookfield family has announced its plans to

take it over.

The Nimer family, already well established in Brookfield for its operation of

the Hi-Way Market on Federal Road since 1981, signed a lease Tuesday with Bob

Hall, owner of the 130-year-old building at 43 Main Street.

"We heard it had closed, so we gave Bob Hall a call. I guess 35 people

inquired about the business, but he narrowed it down to us because of our

history in the business," explained Darin Nimer, who will manage the store.

Darin said he used to stop by the store for coffee on his way through town and

always liked its atmosphere and location.

He and his brother, Randy, spent Wednesday afternoon at the General Store

going over plans for an April grand opening. The two Brookfield residents will

be running the store along with their mother, Rita, under the name Nimer

Enterprises. They hope to open for business by mid-April.

Former owner Donna Spaner was forced to close the store January 26 after the

state Department of Revenue Services put a lien on the store in an effort to

collect $25,000 in unpaid sales taxes.

While the Nimers intend to maintain the store's hometown flavor, they also

plan to modernize the kitchen, get rid of the hot plate that was previously

used, and install a large stove complete with an exhaust system. They also

plan to expand the store's delicatessen. Ice cream will remain on the menu.

In addition, the Nimers say customers can expect a larger selection of

groceries, magazines and pharmaceutical items. They also hope to sell beer.

Ever since the news of the General Store's reopening hit town, the Nimers have

been flooded with calls from people offering suggestions on how best to run

the store.

"I've gotten calls from Newtown people telling me what I should do and what I

shouldn't do," Darin Nimer said. "We want to keep it historical looking."

Randy Nimer will continue to run Hi-Way Market.

Darin, whose wife Amy (Horvath) is a former Newtown resident, had "Newtown

General Store" caps made up in celebration of the lease signing.

The Nimer bothers' cousin, Gary, owns the Hawleyville Deli.

Mrs Spaner had sought to sell the business, but as the Nimers explained,

"there was no business to buy."

The General Store, a longtime fixture in the community, was built during the

Civil War. It has also been featured in The New York Times and Reader's Digest

and was once pictured in a Breyer's Ice Cream television commercial in the

1970s.

The General Store will be open 5 am to 8 pm, Monday to Saturday, and 6 am to 5

pm on Sundays.