Jim Winchester Has A Bird's-Eye View From Store Near The Border

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Since he discovered Pownal, Vt. in the early 1970s, Jim Winchester, owner of Winchester’s Store on U.S. Route 7, has seen the local economy go from robust to bust, then back to healthy again. He remembers when the Green Mountain Racetrack was still a major destination for horse racing fans, and the Pownal Tannery a solid local employer. Then the local economy began to falter in the 1980s when the track downsized to dog racing, and then things got worse in the early 1990s when the track closed, along with the tannery. But now in 2001, Winchester sees a new spark in the economy along the Route 7 strip in what is known as Pownal Center. “Route 7 is healthy again, mainly because of Williamstown. I call this part of Pownal, ‘North Williamstown,’ ” he says. “The influence of Williamstown on Pownal and other towns in its perimeter is remarkable.” “We have a good little group of businesses here, and it helps to be near other stores,” he said. “Stewart’s is where people get their gas; Steve Leonard’s done a great job with the hardware store; there’s Joe Tornabene’s auto dealership, and Jelley’s. The Hillside House, which used to be an old lumberyard, and the Red Barn, are a well-known destination for gifts and furniture.” “I see a lot of Massachusetts plates when I drive along this strip, more than Vermont plates,” he noted. “I also think the new post office [right around the corner on Route 346] has been a big help in getting people to Pownal the last few months. Many people in the northern part of Williamstown find it easier to go to Pownal to do their business, especially while Spring Street is under construction,” he said. He noted that many of his regular customers who are Pownal residents happen to work in Williamstown — at places like the Savings Bank, Countryside Landscape, Steinerfilm, and Williams College. Winchester’s Store, which sells the usual needs of passersby — snacks, beverages, and smaller items — is one of a disappearing breed of locally owned, neighborhood convenience stores. “Look at what’s happened in Williamstown over the years,” he pointed out. “McNichol’s Store on North Hoosac Road, Eddie’s Market, the Slippery Banana, and the Grand Union have all closed. Now, even if you need just a couple of things, you have to drive to Stop n’ Shop.” A native of Gloucester, Winchester was drawn to Pownal because of the Racetrack. After spending four years in the Air Force, he said he was drawn by the “energy and excitement” of the racing circuit in his youthful years. He worked at the Racetrack, as well as at the Pownal Tannery and for the late Jack Watson’s construction business. “In the ’70s, anyone in Pownal could find a job,” he said. “The tannery and the racetrack were still open, General Cable was strong, there was a lot going on. When horse racing left Pownal, I had to make a decision whether my wife and I were going to stay here or move on. We had two young kids; Pownal had just finished building the elementary school. The kids were doing well there, so we decided to stay.” In 1979, Winchester bought the building on Route 7, which had been a general store and Gulf station, fixed it up and started his own business. “I had worked in a grocery store when I was a teenager,” he said. “And I had experience in a deli as well. In my time, kids worked a lot of different jobs during the summers.” Cheerful and folksy, Winchester is always happy to talk local politics or happenings with his clientele — most of whom he knows by name — as he prepares them one of the popular sandwiches in the store’s deli. Indeed, those who haven’t had a Winchester’s sandwich are missing out on one of the best local secrets. He says his customers also include dozens of truck drivers from across the country, who stop in the store for a sandwich on their way through town. Over the years, Winchester has watched many of Pownal, and Williamstown’s residents grow up; he’s seen some go on to great things and some fall behind. “This is a quirky town,” he said of Pownal. “It doesn’t really have a center, and because of that people feel less of a connection with each other. It’s hard to be a community. After the elementary school, half the kids go to Mount Anthony in Bennington, another group goes to Hoosick Falls, N.Y., and then some go to the Williamstown schools. ... A lot of the socialness in Pownal is around the fire departments, which is a big part of the town.” He said the recent debate over the sewer system project shows the disconnectedness of Pownal residents. “We all know we have to do something about this problem, but it’s hard to reach a consensus. This may be the first big thing we come together collaboratively on, and I think it will come together.” Winchester says he wishes Southern Vermont and North Berkshire County could get together more often with economic development and other planning projects. “We’ve always drawn a line between Massachusetts and Vermont, when in fact we have a lot in common. The Bennington paper never seems to print news that’s going on next door in Williamstown, and vice versa, so most of us are out of touch.” “Our bond is that we both have a lot going for us, but [Bennington County] gets forgotten by Montpelier and [Berkshire County] gets neglected by Boston.” Winchester said that his business, like Pownal, has had its ups and downs, but for the most part business has been steady. “I try to stay positive, stay healthy. I like the people here; they’re good working people. I try to keep my prices low so they can afford to get their lunch here.” He said he looks forward to the day when a new use is found for the defunct racetrack, but he doesn’t think it will be horse racing. “You can’t go back,” he said. He thinks the property could best be used for some kind of recreation, such as music concerts, adding that the grandstand itself is in pretty good condition. “We’ve been very close [to finding a new owner willing to revamp the property] a few times.” Winchester said he got his business philosophy from a Pownal farmer, who once told him, “Treat me like a sheep. Keep shearing me; don’t skin me.” “I like that philosophy. ... If you skin the sheep, that’s it — it’s over. But if you just take a little wool every now and then, enough for you to get by, you’ll have that sheep for a long time.”
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North Adams Jewelry Store Has New Owner

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Cheryl Coppens put out a call for someone to take over the jewelry business she began last spring  — jewelry maker Alexandra Padilla answered the call.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Artful Jeweler has a new owner who is looking to expand its offerings.

Cheryl Coppens opened the jewelry store in May, showcasing local artists, offering fine jewelry, and jewelry repair.

But a new grandson in Texas, and the difficulties in flying back and forth to see him, had her looking to move closer to him.

Last month, she posted on the business's Facebook that she wanted someone to take over the space and continue the venture. Alexandra Padilla reached out to her and Coppens said she met all her criteria she was looking for in anew owner.

"You have to really want to be in retail. You have to want to be in this community, priced where people can afford it. Alex is native to North Adams. Her husband, she's got two great kids, so it just felt like they would be able to continue the store," Coppens said. "So the criteria really was somebody that would work the store, not somebody that would just come in and hire employees. I didn't want that."

Padilla started taking over the store in the beginning of December. She has been selling jewelry for about three years, and has an online shop, and has worked in wholesale jewelry for about 15 years.

"I always wanted to have my own thing on it, and I wanted to bring something new, and I want to involve my family, my kids do something, and I want to be independent," she said.

Now Padilla showcases her jewelry in the Ashland Street store and plans to keep some of the local artists' items, like stained glass made by Coppens' mother.

Padilla customizes jewelry and tailors pieces to her customers.

She plans to work around her job at Berkshire County Head Start so she can open store for more hours. 

She also plans to redesign the store a little bit and bring in a couple more lines, like more rings and pearls. 

The store is open on Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays 9 to 2, Fridays 9 to 6, and Sundays 9 to 3. The store has also been open on Mondays 10  to 5 and Tuesdays 10  to 3 for the holidays. 

Padilla thanks Coppens for trusting her and hopes customers continue to support the Artful Jeweler.

"Thank you for trusting me. I'm going to try and do my best and work hard to make it happen," she said. "This is our first time selling retail, so we hope the community supports us in here."

Coppens will be helping Padilla until she is comfortable operating the store on her own. She said it will continue to be a space of community support.

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