End of an Era: Otis Poultry Farm Closes After 121 Years
OTIS, Mass. — Sunday is the last day to purchase products from Otis Poultry Farm.
The farm is closing at 5 p.m. after 121 years of operation.
Owner Andy Pyenson and his wife, Lynn, had announced the farm's closure on its Facebook page April 1, saying the family-owned business had proudly served the community and "from our family to yours, thank you for your unwavering support over the generations."
The property has been for sale for about 12 years, and was almost bought in 2022 to become a cannabis store but the deal fell through.
Pyenson still hopes a buyer will come forward.
"A lot of people come in and look but nobody signs and we're just waiting. I'm hoping within the last couple weeks I am going to sign some paperwork," he said on Friday.
But he says, it's time for him to let it go.
"It's just time. The heyday of what it used to be is gone. It basically used to be a farm and then we got rid of the chickens and basically made it less work but it's still a lot of work going on and I am at the time of my life that I need to move on," he said, of the mainly retail operation.
Pyenson said the economy has harmed his business, including the effects of the pandemic. He is thankful for everyone who has stopped by and supported the farm since his grandparents founded it.
"I would like to thank all the people for their patronage over the last 100 years and hopefully things will work out where someone else can come in and they can continue," he said.
His grandparents, David and Rebecca Pyenson, started the farm in 1904 and he worked on it after his father, Maxwell, took over. Pyenson and his brother took over in turn about 25 years ago and he became the sole operator in 2010.
He now plans to retire to Ohio, but is still hoping someone will come in and buy the property.
"My wife is already out in Ohio so I'm hoping I'm going to square some things here and go out and enjoy whatever you call retirement," he said.
The 25 acres is listed on Sotheby's International Realty for $500,000. The listing states it includes the 12,000 square-foot main building used as general store and cafe, plus several outbuildings.
The store carries grocery items, knickknacks, candy, the farm's famous chicken pot pies, wine, and more. Once the home of nearly 24,000 chickens, Pyenson said the farm hasn't had any in almost 20 years and started carrying eggs from neighboring farms instead.
The store is offering 50 percent off a majority store items; the doors will close at 5 pm. Sunday.
Tags: business closing, poultry,
