By Dominik Lobkowicz
Gary and Jane Gravel (right) pose with their real estate broker, Debby Schling, after winning the auction of the former Goodnow’s Variety in Waldoboro. (D. Lobkowicz photo) |
Winning the real estate auction of the former Goodnow’s Variety in Waldoboro Feb. 5, Gary and Jane Gravel plan to renovate the building and open a second location of their Damariscotta business, Hilltop Stop.
The property, located on Bremen Road at Kaler’s Corner in Waldoboro, has been a convenience store and takeout for years.
Previously Medomak Variety and most recently Goodnow’s Variety after Janice Goodnow and her son Justin bought it in 2007, the Goodnows closed both their Waldoboro location and a sister store at Stickney’s Corner in Washington last June due to lack of business, according to Janice Goodnow.
The Washington location has since sold and opened under a new name; the Waldoboro location has remained closed and has been listed for sale at $200,000, according to the website of Cates Real Estate.
At the on-site auction Feb. 5, auctioneer Tom Saturley started out bidding at $200,000, backing down the amount until the first bid was made at $25,000.
The price jumped up to $50,000 and then $75,000 before making several jumps of $5,000 and $10,000.
The Gravels called a time-out in the auction when the price hit $120,000, and conferred with their real estate broker, Debby Schling, before ultimately placing the winning bid of $121,000.
According to Gary Gravel, he and Jane had also attempted to buy the Goodnow’s location in Washington, but were out-bid.
The Gravels plan to make the Waldoboro store into a second location of their convenience store/takeout in Damariscotta, minus the gas pumps.
“It was a thriving store for a long time,” Gary Gravel said of the Waldoboro store.
Plans include renovating the space and expanding seating, Gravel said, as well as updating some of the kitchen equipment.
Their contractor will start working on the space as soon as the sale is closed, and Gravel expects the location to open within a month and a half.
New full- and part-time staff will be brought on, but Gravel was unsure of how many positions will ultimately need to be filled.
The Waldoboro location will offer roughly the same menu as the Damariscotta one: pizza, subs, burgers, and daily specials. “A lot of grab-and-go,” Gravel said.
The Gravels also plan to apply for a liquor license and hope to be granted one within a year.
As far as Waldoboro Redemption Center, which has been a tenant in the variety store building for over 20 years, Gravel said he needs to meet with redemption center’s owner, Rick Weymouth, to work out the details.
Gravel hopes Weymouth can stay on there, but said a redemption center will still operate in the space either way.
