Date: Fri 13-Aug-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

general-store-Nimers

Full Text:

General Store Is Back On The Market

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Jim Nimer, Sr, never thought he would end up running the Newtown General

Store. His family took up business in the historic Main Street market more

than three years ago with the understanding that Darin, the Nimers' son, would

manage the enterprise.

Darin did just that for nearly two years until he decided to open his own

cigar shop in Danbury. With his son departed, Mr Nimer came in to ensure the

General Store continued to stay afloat. Mr Nimer had plenty of experience in

the convenience store business, having owned Hi-Way Market in Brookfield for

more than 20 years. But he was well past retirement age. Running the

133-year-old Newtown store was not part of the plan.

Last week, the store was advertised for sale by Gleason Group Real Estate with

an asking price of $129,897. After just one week in The Bee , the ad has

already generated interest from all over.

"Someone wants to turn it into a pastry shop, and someone else wants to do

something else. I think it should remain as a general store," Mr Nimer said.

The store will not be sold unless the Nimer family can find the ideal person

to buy it. The Nimers are still responsible for the lease, which has another

two years left on it. The General Store, a business based on high volume,

grossed $400,000 in sales last year.

"I'm going to be careful who I choose," Mr Nimer said.

As for the price, Mr Nimer said that is about what he put into the building

when he first moved in back in 1996. The Nimers arrived soon after former

owner Donna Spaner was forced to close the store when the state's Department

of Revenue Services put a lien on the store in an effort to collect $25,000 in

unpaid taxes.

The Nimers did not actually purchase the business when they moved in. At the

time, the facility lacked the kind of equipment needed to do in-house cooking.

Walls were knocked down and rebuilt, new counters were installed and the deli

was revamped, complete with a state-of-the-art stove, grill and ventilation

system. The store retained its historic flavor, but may have lost some of its

New England charm as a result of the renovations.

Mr Nimer said he closes the store each day at 6 pm, but figures a new owner

might keep it open later to serve Edmond Town Hall moviegoers. He said the

store is made more attractive due to the recent expansion to the nearby

Newtown Savings Bank and the proposal to add on to town hall.

The Nimer family also owns the building which houses Hawleyville Deli.

The General Store, a longtime fixture in the community, was built during the

Civil War. It has been featured in The New York Times and Reader's Digest ,

and was once pictured in a Breyer's ice cream commercial in the 1970s.

The bright red building is owned by Robert Hall, a local attorney whose office

is located next door to the store.