Barnard
posted
Jan 17, 2013
A nonprofit group in Barnard is planning to buy the building
that housed the general store for 180 years at the edge of Silver
Lake. The Barnard Community Trust has raised $470,000 as part of
its effort to buy the building and reopen the store, which closed
last spring.
The previous owners sited the fact that too many customers were
buying groceries and other goods out of town, causing their
revenues to drop to an unsustainable level.
Since the closing, community members have rallied to save the
store, which they see as an important foundation of the town.
The largest single financial donation received was $100,000, but
there were many many small contributions that made a big
difference, the trust reported.
In addition to buying the building, the trust has also found
people to operate the store- a young couple whose names they won't
yet disclose. The couple is planning to move into living quarters
above the store in February.
The Barnard General Store could reopen as soon as April, organizers
say.
