By Liz Garner, Correspondent, The Harvard Post
Sat Jun 21st, 2008, 08:59 AM EDT
Harvard —
Adam Horowitz, owner of the General Store in Harvard, is looking
forward to opening the new store in the center of town. The General
Store is scheduled to open by Fourth of July, said Horowitz, who owns
the store with his wife Lyn.
“The minute we get the refrigeration resolved, we will open,” said
Horowitz.
The first floor is a splendid example of an upscale contemporary
country store. The store will open at 6 a.m. with fresh baked goods from
Iggy’s Bread. The artisan breads and muffins will be delivered from
Cambridge just before the store opens.
Coffee aficionados may look forward to George Howell’s Terroir Coffee
beans. The regular grind will feature high-quality Guatemalan beans.
Espresso, cappuccino and latte lovers will appreciate the dark roasted
Ethiopean beans.
Summertime living will be easier for Harvard residents. No need to
fix lunch; just pop in for a hotdog and fountain soda. On-site food
preparation is limited to hotdogs because of health regulations,
however, as Horowitz said, “If you can only do hotdogs, do them well.”
Adam and Lyn Horowitz sampled 15 types of hotdogs before they settled
on fat, skinny, foot long, crispy and spicy hotdogs from Chicago.
Horowitz amiably described “all sorts of dressings… “A Chicago relish,
disgustingly green stuff…sauerkraut with a taste of cilantro, perfect
for this town…crispy onion, absolutely delicious…fresh chopped onions,
to-mah-to and of course, mustards and catsup.”
The General Store will be a great hang-out for residents of all ages,
with fresh products and a kid-friendly attitude.
“Kids told us they like soda fountains, we put in a soda fountain,”
said Horowitz with a mischievous smile.
There are barrels of salt water taffy, 24 flavors of jelly bellies
and 23 colors of M&M’s. The soda fountain and Moon Sorbet area
overlooks the cemetery, and is perfect for children of any age.
There is a bulletin board and emergency shelves.
“We are the only store in town, so what is our responsibility?”
Horowitz pointed out things that residents might need, “Lotions to
protect skin from the sun and for the kids who overstay their time at
the beach…candles for when the lights go out.”
There is a dairy case with packaged smoked fish and bottled milk.
Horowitz is enthusiastic about the quality of the milk. “Bottled
milk…you know how people love bottled milk…we are taking care of the
logistics with the Stillman family in Lancaster. This is the only jersey
herd in the area and you know,” Horowitz continued, “Jersey cows make
the best milk.”
A freezer stands full “for mothers and fathers who forgot what they
need for dinner…homemade pasta, fresh-frozen…Take it home with
four-minutes in-the-boil and you are done.”
“For the moment we will open just the first floor, it is all we can
do until we have the town sewer. There are three stories and a beautiful
full basement; the second floor has already been revamped,” said
Horowitz.
The second floor will expand the capabilities for showcasing and
selling local arts, crafts and antiques.
And Horowitz glows with the satisfaction of helping his neighbors and
creating the perfect town store.
Picnic tables to be added
Another soon-to-be addition to the Town Center will be public picnic
tables, situated on the green space between the General Store and the
Congregational Church. Several anonymous private citizens have offered
to donate between four and eight picnic tables.
Horowitz said the picnic tables are “a welcome initiative by the
Board of Selectmen and he is pleased to see the town “getting the town
center back.”
Although the town center picnic tables will sit on public land,
Horowitz said he and his wife Lyn are “very happy to support it and will
take care of any trash-related issues.”
Board of Selectmen Chairman Leo Blair sees the picnic tables as part
of the rejuvenation of the town center and creating “vibrancy for
teenagers.”
In addition, Blair hopes that by fall the old library can be used as a
Tweener Study Center for kids in grades five to 10.
Students who want to meet after school have limited options, Blair
said. They are now “pouring into the new library and disturbing people.
The picnic area and tween center will provide a place for teens to study
and play interactive games,” added Blair.
The picnic tables are not just for teens. Blair said that he had the
idea of installing picnic tables because “Every time someone says,
‘Let’s meet’ we end up going to the Dunkin’ Donuts. Now we can buy a cup
of coffee and sit outside and eat in the town center. With the school,
the General Store and the tween center, Harvard will be like a town
again.”
According to Blair, the land is controlled by the Park and Recreation
Commission, who approved the installation of the picnic tables. The
Historic Commission will suggest a style consistent with the historical
town center. Blair said he is looking for tables with built-in benches
that will weigh about 300 pounds.