New General Store Is Just What We Need
By James Doran
If you were to ask anyone who lives in the Town of Lexington what single change would make the biggest difference to their lives you would invariably be told that we need, more than anything, a general store.
Somewhere to go get a gallon of milk, or even – just imagine it – a decent cup of coffee without having to drive seven miles in either direction down 23A. Somewhere you could walk to, somewhere to meet friends for a bite to eat or a drink. Somewhere for our community to gather any day of the week with friends and neighbors and those passing through.
We haven’t had a general store in Lexington for more than a decade, so long in fact that nobody I have spoken to in recent weeks can be sure, exactly, when the doors finally closed on the store once run by Jim and Candace Boile next to the post office, or when we lost the convenience store in Spruceton.
But all that is about to change thanks to Will Sperling, a 34-year old adventurer from the UK who right now, can be found in the shell of a store next door to the post office putting up sheet rock, cutting new doorways and hoping to find someone with decent taping and mudding skills to realize his and everyone else in town’s dream.
A new general store for the Town of Lexington.
And his dream is big.
“Aside from the very practical and well-stocked general store we are building seating indoors and outside where people will be able to eat and drink,” Sperling said during a break from construction work last week.
The plans include a counter with seating and three booths inside and a number of picnic tables outside.
The food on offer will include light fare such as sandwiches, salads, soups, smoothies and juices, fresh bread and baked goods, while the beverages will include coffee, tea, beer and wine.
“We have applied for a license to sell beer and wine on premises and beer off premises,” Sperling adds. “It’s a lot of work but we are getting there.”
And he should know.
Today he works as a front of house man at the Peekamoose Restaurant and Tap Room in Big Indian but from the day in 2008 when he arrived in New York City, fresh off the plane with just $200 in his pocket, Sperling has opened and managed some prestigious spots in both retail and hospitality.
After a stint working at Macy’s in Midtown Manhattan and then selling suits on Madison Avenue, Sperling landed a job as Maitre D’ at the Gramercy Tavern, the crown Jewel of famed restaurateur Danny Meyer’s expansive empire and one of New York City’s most loved restaurants.
From there he went on to open up a specialty market on Capitol Hill in Washington DC “The owners wanted it to be just like a Parisian market, and that’s what we did,” Sperling said, adding that he opened the place and ran it very successfully from 2011 to 2013.
After that he opened a number of bars and restaurants all over the country but mainly in New York City, one of which, The Clock Tower, earned a Michelin Star.
Having achieved such a pedigree it might be surprising to learn that Sperling is not the type of Big City braggard that tends to jar with rural Americans. He is a down to earth, friendly and kind man of our community who wants to serve what we need and crave with accessibility and prices for all.
“I want this place to be as open as possible, I want something for everyone – all ages and backgrounds. Most of all I do not want anyone in Lexington to be priced out. We are building a general store for the community. This is a great town and we need something like this.”
And Sperling is not working alone. His father-in-law Douglas Williams is helping hang the sheet rock while his wife, Caitlin Williams who also has many years of high-end retail experience from Los Angeles to New York City, will be working at the store part-time and leading the branding and marketing.
A recent appearance before the Lexington Town planning board is said by insiders to have gone very well, with some noting Sperling’s presentation and delivery received a round of applause.
Aside from the construction work and licensing, he must navigate strict State health and safety requirements which he describes as “thorough and very important”.
Once all that is overcome Sperling hopes to open at some point in the fall with October currently the likely target date.
“I’ve opened and run a lot of great establishments and I can tell you opening up is the best part. Once you’ve done that – assuming you’ve done it right – it should run itself. But this part, building it out, realizing the plans and actually getting to opening day, that’s the exciting part,” Sperling concludes.
“We are building something new.”