Corner Store in Paris has new owner

Photo: Kayla Collins

NEW OWNER —  Terry Aptt, of Oxford, is the new owner of the former Corner Store on Nichol Street in Paris, now called Terry's Variety Store. 

PARIS —  The Corner Store on Nichol Street in Paris that was once thrived as a general store and then a café, has a new owner. 

On October 15, 2012, Terry Aptt, of Oxford, transformed the old building into her very own, basic convenience store, she said, which is now called Terry's Variety Store. 

"We had to do some reconstructing," said Aptt, who has lived in Oxford for 10 years and worked at The Corner Store two years ago. According to Aptt, the building was constructed in the mid-1900s. 

"This used to be a pretty happening store," Aptt said. "I am hoping I can get it back to that. 

"It's a work in progress. In two years, I am hoping I can give it a little bit of a face-lift. In five years, hopefully I can have it all reconditioned." 

In fact, opening the store was her one-year anniversary present from her husband Greg, she smiled. "Every day is a new adventure." 

Before taking over ownership of the store, Aptt worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant, mainly for Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston then Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway for five years. 

She has also worked part-time in other local convenience stores, including Leeds Center Variety in Leeds and Polly's Variety in Oxford. 

Now that Aptt has her own business, she said, she spends most of her time right at the store. "I am here from four o'clock in the morning until seven o'clock at night when we close," she said. 

"I love the people ... When my husband came home one night and told me he could acquire the building and have my own store, I was all for it."

She said working at The Corner Store for two-and-a-half years made her well-acquainted with people in the community. 

Currently, Greg, Aptt and her 17-year-old stepson Alex are the only ones running the store – at least until business picks up, Aptt said. 

She said Greg has "been a really big help ... between him working and helping me here he does a lot." Greg also works full-time for Turn Key Homes in Oxford. 

She said for Alex, who is known to be shy, being a cashier at the store has "forced him out of his shell." 

Alex agreed, as he handed change to a morning customer. "I like that I get to meet new people," he said.

"People come in and everyday, there's some of the same people," he said. "I get to joke around with them."

For Aptt, owning the store is another way for her to take care of people. 

"I am getting a lot of requests for what people want, what they would like to see, and I am trying to fulfill that," she said. 

According to Aptt, her first job was in a kitchen at a nursing home at the age of 14. "Right from the get-go I've been in the kitchen," she said, though cooking isn't her favorite part of running the business. 

She iterated that communicating with her customers is what she's passionate about. "It's just one of those things I've always leaned towards," she explained. 

"It's just the people in general. A lot of them are more like friends than customers." 

Winter hours are 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. 

Photo: Kayla Collins

CASHIN' OUT — Alex Aptt, 17, helps out customer Bob Mitchell, of Waterford, at Terry's Variety Store in Paris January 16 as the store's new owner, Alex's step mom Terry, looks on. Mitchell said that he visits the store at least three times every day.