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Page 10 January 2019 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Page 10 January 2019
Page 10 January 2019
B U S I N E S S news
New Mountaindale Convenience Local Contractor Recognized by
Store State of Pennsylvania
Blair Garrett Fitzgerald’s Courtesy Photo
Heavy Timber,
Mountaindale Photo by Blair Garrett located on
Convenience Store Powell Road
offers more to its in Thurmont,
customers than received the
just quality foods, Pennsylvania
hot meals, or Historic
gasoline. Preservation
Owners Award for the
Rida and Julian restoration
Mitchell bring a of Pine Bank
warm, inviting Covered Bridge.
atmosphere to Fitzgerald’s
the people of Heavy Timber
Thurmont, along is a full-service
with great service timber framing
with a smile. specialist, Pictured is the restored Pine Bank Covered Bridge at the Dedication
The family Mountaindale Convenience Store owner, Rida Mitchell, is shown inside the producing Ceremony in 2018.
store’s second location, just off of U.S. Route 15 at Putman Road.
has followed and elegant, cost-
fi nally capitalized on their dream of The new location just off U.S. effective building solutions by combining traditional craftsmanship and
doing something bigger and better, Route 15 on Putman Road offers technical innovation.
opening up a second convenience a wider selection of goodies, deli Located in Western Pennsylvania, the Pine Bank Covered Bridge was
store back in October. The new store meats, and bakery items, but the same originally constructed in the early 1800s and relocated to Meadowcroft
provides all the same services as the friendly faces that have been there to Rock Shelter in the 1960s to become a part of the Meadowcroft
existing previous one, but with expanded offer a helping hand remain the same. Rockshelter and Historic Village. The bridge serves as an essential part
room and variety, and, of course, the The business features a plethora of their facilities; all visitors
same friendly customer service. of custom-made benches, frames, and navigate through the parking area
Owning a convenience store for counters made by locals, for locals. through the covered bridge. A
nearly thirty years teaches you a The countertops from the deli to conservation assessment conducted
thing or two about how things work. the checkout counter all come from in 2012 noted numerous signifi cant
You learn to effectively manage local people, which shows that the problems, including structural
costs, how to balance a budget, and roots of this community run deep in issues. Work on the bridge began
the intricacies of how a business is Mountaindale Convenience Store. in 2016 to remove deteriorated
supposed to run. But one thing you But with the location of the new sections of the truss, splicing in
do not learn is how to connect with a store, it is no longer just the same new replacement timber, raising the
community. That is a skill that must crowd passing through. “We’ve got elevation of the bridge to correct
be cultivated, practiced, and then locals that have been checking us drainage issues, and installing a
implemented with perfection. out to see what’s going on,” Rida new standing-seam metal roof that
The Mitchell family has cornered said. “Most of the people are new returned the bridge to its original
that country market feel, hitting people who we’ve never seen before, appearance.
home with the residents of the but I can see them becoming regular If you would like more
greater Thurmont area, and giving customers because we’ve already information about this topic, please
customers the exact atmosphere heard them say this is going to be call Dean Fitzgerald at 301-639-
to make them feel at home while their regular stop.” 2988 or e-mail deanfi tzgerald@
grabbing a bite to eat or a pack of The store has even been catering to heavytimber.net.
their favorite sweets. a younger demographic, packing the
The initial store, still on coolers with popular craft beers and
Mountaindale Road in Thurmont, specialty drinks, gaining popularity in
was taken over by the Mitchells in breweries across the nation. “My son
1990. The store has that blue-collar has been helping us out with that,”
town look, featuring the same faces Rida said. “We have got shelves and
that have been stopping in for decades, shelves and shelves full of craft beer,
day after day. And even though the so when they come in here, they’re
new second location has a brand-new shocked to see it all.”
kitchen, larger fl oor space and more Through the highs and lows,
varieties of sodas than a person could Mountaindale Convenience Store is
ever ask for, it has not lost an ounce of still thriving and looking forward
that same country charm. to building new relationships with
“The bottom line is, we are a customers who stop in from places
country store,” Julian said. “That near and far. But one thing is certain,
old building was built in 1870. no matter how much growth and
It’s always been a country store. I development the convenience store
wanted to be able to do something has, that comforting country-store
bigger.” feeling will always stay the same.
