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On weekdays it looks like a homey, Americana shop with rows of jams and empty baskets just waiting for baked goods. Then Sunday rolls around and the Dedham Square Country Store is packed with shoppers, warm bread, fresh seafood, cheese and conversation. The 23-year-old proprietor, Greg Agnew, said there were times he never thought it would make it through the first year. Luckily it did and on Sunday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. the High Street shop will be open for its anniversary party. Agnew recently talked to the Dedham Transcript about the first year in Dedham Square and his future plans.
| Q: The Dedham Square Country Store is marking its year anniversary, did you think you would make to this point? |
A: I honestly thought at some points during the last year that we would have never made it to year one. The store is a constant work-in-progress, with so many hours each week put into planning and implementation of new products, store design, and functionality. There were some moments over the past year where I would sit at my desk and wonder if we could survive another week with the budget we had, or the products we were going to offer the following Sunday at the market. I still wonder how we made it this far, but it’s important to remember that we continue to need the communities unwavering support if we’re going to succeed and make it to year two. We have a phenomenal following in the town of Dedham, and our customers are the reason we’ve been in business this long. |
| Q: What motivated you to even open this market and to keep it going? |
A: My father (Greg Agnew, Sr.) scheduled an appointment to look at the open space at 626 High St. back in October of 2009, thinking we’d never be able to afford it. We were hoping to get just a simple winter farmer’s market-style business up and running to support the following of the summer farmer’s market, co-created by our friend Adina Astor. As we moved farther along through November, and into the months leading up to now, we realized the town needed more than a farmer’s market-style outfit, they needed organic, fresh, all-natural produce and other products year round. They needed a place that they could shop, knowing where the ingredients came from, and knowing it was truly all locally-produced. The landlords (The Odd Fellows), my father, and I all worked out a plan that would allow us to survive, and we’re grateful to Odd Fellows and the community for this wonderful opportunity. My motivation in keeping the market open was knowing that I was filling a need for local, organic, all-natural and fresh products, in a world that offers mostly processed, pesticide-laden foods. |
| Q: What is your five-year plan for the store? |
A: I have my dreams as to where I might be in five years. I definitely still want to be in business, I want to be open at least five days a week, and I want to expand our customer base deeper into the surrounding communities (especially my hometown of Westwood), so that we can educate more people about the advantages of eating and living healthy. As for the rest of my dreams, you’ll just have to periodically drop by and see. |
| Q: What has been a highlight over the past year? |
A: The highlight for me has been spending more time with my dad, and learning how to be in the retail business (something he’s done his whole life). I’m a very firm believer that formal education can only take you so far, and its limited in what it can teach you. My dad says that if you want to learn, (and be successful), you have to be willing to bust your hump, open your ears, and get your hands dirty. Without my dad around, there would be no country store. |
| Q: Who was the best customer? |
A: It’s hard to judge who our best customer really is, since we have so many weekly regulars. I’m not going to name names, but I’d like to thank everyone who regularly comes in, and relies upon us to fulfill their grocery needs each Sunday. |
| Q: What was your strangest moment? |
A: Our strangest moment occurs every week, when someone, who I seem to never notice, leaves an empty egg carton in our fridge. (We have a program that rewards you $0.25 off your next egg purchase if you bring back the carton. Everyone but one person gives the cartons to me each week). |
| Q: What can shoppers expect in year two? |
A: In year two, shoppers can expect a lot of surprises, just like they’ve observed on a high frequency throughout 2010. I hope to install a coffee and lose leaf tea bar, all-natural smoothies, and an overall robust and full product selection. Our intent is not to encroach on anyone else’s retail turf, and to honor the commitment we’ve made to our customers to open more hours as time goes on. |
