New store 'off the hook'

Off the Hook General Store Photo: Devin Conway

IN WITH THE NEW — Dave Podlaski stands in front of the newly opened Off the Hook General Store on Waterford Road in Norway, Maine.

NORWAY — Friendly fun and small-town charm are the themes two entrepreneurs are trying to build around Off The Hook general store on Waterford Road in Norway.

"This store is off the hook," says Norway resident Dave Podlaski who along with James Johnson of Westbrook, is running the store that formerly housed Martin's General Store and Weltner's General Store.

Johnson says he enjoys coming to Norway from the faster-paced Portland area because of the friendly people and a welcoming culture.

"I believe in this store so much that I come all the way up from Westbrook," he says. "It's a slower way of life. People treat each other like they know them well."

That sort of environment is what Johnson and Podlaski want to build their store around. They plan to listen to the people coming in and build the store around what they need.

"Everyday, when people come in they let us know what they want in here and we get it for them."

Podlaski and Johnson worked at a group home for the disabled run by Goodwill Industries for 20 years. A coworker from Norway, who was a friend of former owner Forrest Martin, suggested that try running the enterprise.

They want to take a page or two from Martin's book by engaging the community.

"Forrest used to drive a bus and he would bring the elementary school kids up here on the last day of school and give them free ice cream," said Podalski. "We want to do the same thing."

That is, of course, once they get a soft serve machine. The business has only been open for two months and the space has yet to fill up.

While they add to their stock, Johnson and Podalski will continue selling homemade chili and sandwiches for which they are already gaining some renown.

"Our biggest complaint is that the prices are too low and that there is too much meat on the sandwiches," Podlaski jokes.