Apple Country Markets was formed in 1986 in Boxborough Massachusetts. This was our first location of the new company. The store consisted of groceries, cigarettes, milk, coffee, and a deli. A few years later we added beer, wine, & liquor to an already growing product mix. The store was eventually remodeled to include in it a dry cleaning dropoff and a full service bank right inside the store.
Late in the year of 1987 we added our second location in Clinton Massachusetts. This location was located on Mechanic Street and was a much larger space than our previous location. The Clinton location included groceries, cigarettes, milk, a deli, as well as a large greeting card section and an expanded self serve coffee area. This larger store had an array of products to offer our customers including beer, wine, and liquor which was added in 1991.
In 1989 we added our third location in Hudson Massachusetts. This was by far our most ambitious project yet. Not only did the store include many of the same products as the other stores, but it also included a dry cleaning dropoff and a full service video store inside of it. Beer and wine was added in 1994.
In 1993 we added a second store in Clinton on Main Street. This location also included beer and wine. In 1995 we took control of the video store directly next door to out Mechanic Street location in Clinton. This added another layer of convenience for our customers. The movie rental business was growing strong at the time and we wanted to be able to fill the many needs of the Clinton community.
With some stores outperforming others the decision was made to concentrate on those that were exceeding expectations. The Boxborough location was sold in 1991. Throughtout the 90's business continued to changes with each store facing its own set of unique challenges.
The years 1999 and 2000 saw some more contraction. The Hudson store was sold off in 1999 followed by the Main Street location in Clinton in 2000. The remaining Mechanic Street location and the adjoining Video Store was what remained. Those two businesses continued to go in opposite directions at the beginning of the new century.
With the changing atmosphere of the movie rental industry it was decided that it was time to end our forray into that business. The market on Mechanic Street had begun to outgrow its current foot print. Plans were drawn up to expand the market into the existing video store with a business model that would propel us for a long stay in this community of Clinton.
Construction began in early 2006. The wall adjoining each store was removed with a new floor and ceiling being put down throughout. A new 18 door cooler was added to the new alcohol side of the store along with lay down wooden wine racks, expanded shelving for liquor, and much needed display area for all alcohol. The cooler was completed in early May and it was time for the move. All the alcohol was moved over to were the video store use to sit just before Memorial Day 2006. With the summer business fast approaching and most major construction completed it was decided that we halt renovations until the fall.
The fall saw us pick up were we left of, completely many smaller tasks that required attention. The store was completely painted in our new color scheme. January 2007 saw the delivery of our brand new deli case and cold merchandiser and now 95% of the renovations were complete. Minor things remain which will be completed in early 2008 to give our store the look and feel of the community we serve.
Please stop and and enjoy a cup of Green Mountain Coffee or maybe a sandwich from our deli and say hello. We love to hear from each and everyone of our customers.
