After closing in late December, a popular Route 302 corner store has reopened, with new but familiar ownership.
Josh Gelston, a former longtime employee of Highland Variety and the owner of Starlite Cafe? at the Westbrook Community Center, reopened the store as Duck Pond Variety last Friday. This week, he said the store has already been well-received by regulars.
Gelston had worked at Highland Variety for 10 years for former owner Rick Wagner, who operated the store for 28 years. In January, after he closed the store, Wagner said that a few unfortunate slow periods, including last summer during a construction period on Route 302, caused him to consider a sale.
“Rick and I have been friends the entire time,” Gelston said about eventually coming to an agreement with Wagner on the building after it was on the market. “I know what the store can do, because I spent 10 years here.”
On Monday, Gelston was offering grand-opening specials such as two large ham Italians for $6, or a large, one-topping pizza and large fry for $11. He said the interior of the aged building was revamped, with new flooring and barn-board walls to give it a “rustic” feel. He also added new steel countertops and repainted.
The convenience store and gas station is on the corner of Bridgton and Duck Pond roads, and has served the people of the neighborhood, and those commuting on Route 302, for years.
According to City Councilor Mike Sanphy, who is also the president of the Westbrook Historical Society, the history of the Highland Variety location goes back to the 19th century, when there was a store and post office at the location. The original building burned in 1926, and was replaced by a renovated stable originally used by the Highland Lake Grange.
Gelston’s main business is Starlite Catering, a successful catering service for large regional concerts held at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland and other venues in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
He said that about four years ago, he left Highland Variety to concentrate on the catering business, which has grown during the last 10 years. However, he said, he’s now looking at the variety store as a way to ease back from the catering.
“It’s been really good,” he said about the first few days. “People really missed this place. To get it back open and going again is definitely a good thing.”
Duck Pond Variety, formerly Highland Variety, opened last week on Route 302. Courtesy photo
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