We all miss the special places that stood with doors wide open in our lifetime–the Lenhart, Hedberg’s Bakery, favorite corner stores, eateries, and pharmacies. At some point, as time marches on, those iconic businesses close, or new owners come in, hoping to keep the spirit of the place alive. Sometimes they do it well, and sometimes they don’t.

As more and more corporations move their businesses into small towns and neighborhoods, our communities become void of the things that once made them unique. So, when I heard the Bemus Point Market was sold recently, I was worried one of my favorite places would cease to retain all the things that we love about it: the old ice cream window, pies at the cash register, the feel of Mayberry RFD in the aisles.

I needn’t have worried. An hour on the phone with Greg Huber, one of the store’s new owners, convinced me this little market has big things going on, the kind of good things that make an already iconic place better.

Huber said he became interested in buying the little grocery store when two of his grandkids, who are “scoopers” at the market in the summer months, told him it was up for sale. A businessman his whole life, Greg formed a partnership with Scott and Chuck Pierce Jr. (of Pierce Services), and when their offer was accepted, they set about adding products they thought would better serve the community but would also help to make the market more viable in the winter months.

“Our idea was to freshen it up,” Huber told me in a recent interview. “It’s still a country store, but we’ve added some flare.”

Huber told me the ice cream business at the market is the real star. They sell more Perry’s ice cream at their outdoor service window than anyone else in Chautauqua County.

But the new owners realized they could expand on the ice cream success and offer other items that would be just as popular. They’ve started selling hand-crafted subs and sandwiches, which Huber says have been pretty popular with customers in the three weeks the store has changed ownership.

The biggest change has been the addition of a bakery with a full-time in-house baker who whips up pies, cakes, cookies, fresh bread, gluten free offerings and other items. They’ve also added rotisserie chicken to the lineup, which is a great take-out item for residents looking for convenience without having to drive to a bigger grocery store.

But Huber says it’s not just about the food. What the new owners hope to create is a place that anchors the village and offers a sense of community. They’d like to start a farmers market in the summer months, perhaps using the space behind the store for weekly sales of vegetables and other items from local farmers.

A testament that community is at the heart of their business, they’ve hired several students in special education classes at local schools to help stock the shelves and perform other tasks. “We’re keeping it local and positive,” Huber says.

Another great idea for the summer months: the owners plan to start a service for boaters who can pull up to the market’s dock next to The Fish and have items delivered right to their boat like ice, subs, and beer.

They’re also looking to offer good cuts of meat–like steaks and pork chops–and at some point, fresh fish. They’re also toying with adding chicken wings and beef on weck to the menu.

Huber says the market owners like creating synergy with other local businesses. They buy their vegetables from Brigiottas and they plan to get more area producers licensed to sell food items in the store.

Will residents forgo the big box stores and find value and convenience at the market? “We’re just asking customers to give us a chance,” he says.

The partners have remodeled and modernized the three upstairs apartments above the store and they may look to grants in the future for work on the outside.

It sounds fantastic, doesn’t it? Maybe we can have our cake and eat it too. (Or how about a warm loaf of freshly baked bread?) We get the old market but new and improved, offering items and services that bring something good to the village, and all wrapped around good intentions to embrace and involve the community.

That’s a business model we can all appreciate: local, positive, convenient, and delicious. “We’re looking to do something positive,” Huber says. “There’s too much sadness in the world.”

The market is open for business, but the grand opening is scheduled for April 8th. I’ll be there for the bread. And, okay, probably the ice cream, too. Or maybe a cookie.