Eastport's only grocery store slated to close

Eastport area residents were shocked to hear on Wednesday, August 26, that the city's only grocery store will be closing, with over 20 people losing their jobs. The R&M IGA's last day for being open is slated to be September 3. Along with the Farmers' Union in Perry, the nearest grocery stores are in Calais, about 30 miles away. In addition, the Eastport Family Dollar store offers some food products.

Co-owner Merilyn Mills states, "I'm now at a point in life where I feel the need to retire. In preparation for this day, I have had many conversations with potential buyers. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, none of them have yet come forward to proceed with a purchase. So after a great deal of thought, reflection and heartfelt consideration, I have made the difficult decision to close our family business."

Reflecting on her decision, Mills says, "Having spent much of my life serving the people of Eastport and surrounding communities, and as a lifelong member of the community myself, I understand that the R&M is more than simply a business. For many of our friends and neighbors, it is an important and familiar part of daily life. So I know this news is disappointing and concerning to many people."

She adds, "It is deeply difficult for me as well." She says she did not make the decision lightly, as she cares "about this community and about the people who have supported our family business through the years.

City council President William "Billy" Boone says the closure "will hurt the city in the short-term, but I'm hopeful in the not too distant future another entity will take it over." As for the impact on those without transportation to drive to another store, he says it will be "extremely tough," but adds, "We're fortunate that the Family Dollar offers quite a lot of product now."

A total of 12 full-time and nine part-time employees will be laid off. They will all be paid for their paid time off and accrued time off.

Grace DeSantis, who has worked as a cashier at the IGA for four years, says, "We kind of figured out it was going to happen," with the store either being sold or closed. "There were rumors going around." She says people have been reaching out to the employees, either with suggestions for businesses that may have openings or just to "say they feel sorry for us."

"I feel bad for the elders now. They can't just go to Calais," she says, adding, "I really hope someone buys the building."

Another cashier, Autumn Cookson, has had a couple of job offers and, like DeSantis, says she is "worried for the elders here who can't make it to Calais." She adds, "We appreciate Merilyn and everything she's done for us. She's taken care of us and is making sure we're all going to be OK. We all absolutely love her."

In turn, Mills says she is "profoundly grateful to our employees, both past and present. They have been the heart of this business, serving our customers with dedication, kindness and hard work." She hopes that someone will come forward in the days ahead with an interest in purchasing and continuing the business, "providing our employees with the opportunity to remain employed and continue serving this community."

A long history

Mills observes, "For four generations, members of my family have owned and operated food stores in Eastport. I grew up at the R&M IGA working with my father and my uncle and, like my family before me, I have spent many years running the store through good times and bad."

The business has its roots in a shop at 76 Water Street in downtown Eastport that was started by Merilyn Mills' great-grandfather, Armando Conti, who was born in Livorno, Italy, in 1893 and emigrated to the United States. After his death in 1943, the business was taken over by his son Mario. A fire in a downtown business block in April 1963 damaged A. Conti's Wholesale Tobacco store, and with wholesalers being squeezed out and the trade with the nearby Canadian islanders slacking off, the store was phased out.

Meanwhile Mario's sons, Merrill and Roger, had purchased a building on upper Washington St. to open their own grocery business. In 1960 they constructed a larger building there and eventually built the current store building farther out on Washington Street, which opened in 1990.

After generations in the business and 35 years at the current location, Mills says, "To our customers, friends, and neighbors: thank you for your friendship and your support – not only during my years of ownership but throughout four generations of my family's history in the grocery business. It has been a privilege to serve this community and to be part of your lives."