It is always very sad when a town landmark closes it's doors. The Spences provided a great service to the people of West Chelmsford and the town and we thank them. The current economy is not kind to the small business owner. The service station at the intersection of Mill and North Road just closed as did Aubuchon hardware, elections have consequences.

A snack bar for the kids at the field.

Economy, oh I thought it was on a rebound. Yea Right! Wish I had an input but nothing comes to mind as it seems not to be a great area for full time business prospects at a glance. (Visited) Property yesturday. I visited another closed business at Adams Street too but the town zoning killed my ideas to persue buying. Sometimes it is not a matter of Ideas that we would like to see go into places open that were once commercial. It's a matter of how many changes the Town makes detouring Businesss in it's Zoning Changes too. LAndry's Service Station which remains closed is too high priced compared to the Building and Equipment needing maintenance. Do I dare ask if the tanks below ground are up to par? Well, all in all there's a lot more open spaces as small busines commerce closes here and there.

okay Tom, I agree that "It is always very sad when a town landmark closes it's doors." But the part about "elections have consequences", honestly? What elections are you talking about? State, local, Federal? Seriously if you're interested in having a conversation then bring something besides meaningless tropes. Might as well have said "Oh kids these days!". The point is so generic to be meaningless. Especially when you fail to address reasons why the business owners closed doors. Was it the fact that the family members wanted to do something else besides sell 75 cent hot dogs? Or that a small store with limited hours of operation can't barely tread water in an age where the local gas station has as many products on sale as they do? Moving on - I'd challenge you to look at the property as someone who was going to take a 350K loan out to buy/refurbish and tell me what products you'd sell there, what traffic you'd get and at what point you think you'd break even. I'd argue its more a factor of the economy's makeup than politicians: the upfront investment required for brick and mortar stores make entrepreneurs focus on more "low cost entry" startups. Anyway - sorry to see them go, but the location really isn't going to be great for many small businesses. I'd say a bakery or coffee spot based on the location/ type of traffic but if you see the equipment costs to start one you'd flinch. Maybe you can lure away a local business from a nearby town who already has a footing.

how about a bank, salon, pizza joint, pharmacy, laundry place or liquor store? :) I'm kidding, but seriously go to any town in the suburbs and this is a issue. these are the major 'sustainable' outfits based on margins and needs they serve.

it's a long term issue with success - town/state/national success as well as the financial sector's success/consolidation. local property values rise to the point that low margin businesses who face high initial investments are either not going to take the risk or get the funding they need from banks. especially when banks can make more money in investments by borrowing (relatively ) free money from the Fed instead of high risk small business loans to businesses whose clients increasingly frequent large malls and other "single shop" stores.

It takes active town planning and help from solid local financial institutions (credit unions and local banks) to build these things.

I think I can speak for a lot of people out there when I say that the Country Store was such a memorable part of my childhood. When I tell my friends at college that I grew up "having picnics at friendship park, finding the brick on the walkway with my name on it, and running over to the country store for a summer popsicle" they think I grew up in a dreamland. It's places like this that make us college kids nostalgic and appreciative of where we grew up - thank you to anyone and everyone who ever helped make the Country Store a success. Fond memories!

It is so sad to see this favorite place close its doors. What could thrive there? I am so sick of "chain" stores and restaurants! Thank you to the Spence Family for providing us with the Country Store for all those years!

I don't think the economy or politics have a thing to do with the store closing ... Bill Spence is just retiring, end of story. No longer doing SPED transportation for the school department either. A very good man, earned his leisure time.