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INDUSTRY – After eight years, the owners of the Ugly Moose convenient store are closing its doors for good today.
For years, this town’s lone store, perched at the foot of Clearwater Lake in Allen’s Mills, was where the locals got their morning coffee, beach-going kids their hot dogs and pizza and most of all, said co-owner Gary Smith today, everyone got their daily dose of neighborly conversation.
“I’m going to miss it,” he said. Shelves half-filled with convenient foods, unused pizza boxes marked down for sale and signs announcing this the last day are the last remnants of the business. “What I’m going to miss the most are the people,” Smith added quietly.
Gary and Denise Smith, professional dancers and owners of four Arthur Murray Dance Studios from Long Island, N.Y. happened by here eight years ago. After seeing the view and the building for sale, they bought it within the first 15 minutes of arrival. For the first year and half he lived here and worked long hours at the store.
He returned to New York to run the dance studios because he “got that New York itch” and things were starting to take off at the studios. Diana Duley managed the store while the couple were away.
“There are a lot of disappointed people,” she said of the store closing today.
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“We tried to keep it open but it was a lot of hours and the volume of people was not enough,” Smith said. He added with all the state regulations and restrictions and costs such as insurance, licenses, inspections, made it all the more difficult for this small business to stay open.
This year, business in June, July and August was great, but those profits were only enough to keep the store afloat through this month. It was actually two years ago when Smith wanted to close the store because they were losing money on it, but his wife persuaded him to keep it open.
“We kept it open for the townspeople,” he said. “We can’t thank everyone enough for their support.” He said he’ll miss having the regulars stop by for a cup of coffee and good conversation. “People here taught me to slow down and enjoy the view,” Smith added.
He said he doesn’t know what he’ll do next with the building, but he will keep the marina open.
“I do know I will continue to enjoy this community and beautiful Maine,” Smith said.
It would be great if both the year round and summer residents, who depend so much on the Ugly Moose, could form a sort of Co-Op in oder to help keep the store going. Something simular to the Farmers Union in town, where as people could buy share in the store. Giving it the cash flow that it needs between seasons to keep it afloat and while paying a return when times are good. The Ugly Moose has been a big part of the community of Industry and we all need to pull together to help out our neighbor.
And another Maine business bites the dust. Obama Care and Cap and Trade will finish off the remaining few and leave us with Walmart and Hannaford.
Sorry to hear of your decision. This has been a great, friendly place that really was like a good neighbor. I wish we could do something to help you stay open. I wonder if the licenses and things changed in the past two years since Obama was in office – or have things been that way all along? It would be good to hear from Gary himself about what, if anything, changed in the past two years – ? And Gary, we wish you well with all of these decisions and changes. Thanks for your your hard work and friendly nature.
Gary and Denise provided a much improved piece of real estate while offering the area population retail and marina services that were needed and appreciated.
I expect that if they could economically justify the continuation of service, it would not be closing. It is my hope that through some brainstorming, and openess to suggestion and local participation of ideas, perhaps some effort can be put forward that can be rewarded with financial participation, adequate to their business growth and sustainability in the coming years.
I am glad to hear of their intent to continue with Marina services. May be there would be a way to build on associated water’s edge type businesses, the Lake generates from it’s mere existance as the jewel it is, with the recreation that it offers.
The Smith’s future good fortune use of the property should be considered one in the same with those who appreciate Clearwater Lake, and they should be supported in their effort.
That is so sad. James and I loved to have a bite to eat there and enjoy the lake. We will miss The Ugly Moose very much.
Did I miss something? Did Gary Smith cite cap and trade legislation and health insurance programs as reasons why they decided to close the shop, or is Bob simply venting his own set of frustrations?
“He added with all the state regulations and restrictions and costs such as insurance, licenses, inspections, made it all the more difficult for this small business to stay open.”
No – I’m sure Cap & Trade had nothing to do with this, but I am sure that over thirty years of democrats in charge of our STATE’s business & insurance regulations has!!! It’s time to change the business climate in Maine, and that starts with changing the leadership in Augusta. Vote out the democrats that have made this state one of the worse to do business in.
Sorry to hear of this business closing. But as a small business owner, I can say that things starting going down hill when President Bush was in office. I was completely astonished and shocked to think the American people voted him in for another 4 year term. Things have not been good since 2001. Change would be a good thing for Maine, but let us be wise and not want change so bad that we vote in the wrong person as Governor. “LePage”. Maybe it’s time for an independent like”Cutler”. Just saying…
The reason why people come to Maine is to enjoy the natural beauty of such places as Clearwater, which have been protected from destruction by greedy republican businessmen who have little interests other than their own pocketbooks.
It is a sad day in our little town when we loose the only store we have. It’s the same everywhere in Maine where small business is regulated and licsenced and taxed out of existance by the democrats in charge for the last 30+ years. I plead to the Maine people to not keep making the same mistakes we have made in the past. We need a drastic change in Augusta this fall. We can’t stand another touchy, feely, politically correct, liberal, career politician to continue the policies that have ruined the business climate in our state. We need a proven leader that can fix things fast. One who is not afraid to shake things up, tell it like it is, step on a few toes, whatever it takes to get us back on track. Paul Lepage is that person.
I laugh at comments about “greedy republicans” when the biggest socialist liberal president we have ever had is in bed with Goldman Sachs and Citi Bank. Yes, “Cap and Trade” will finish off the rest of the small businesses in Maine and when you are paying ten dollars a gallon for gas to drive to Farmington for your groceries and other essential needs you will wonder why you ever supported the moron who stopped domestic oil production and left you with a bunch of wind turbines whistling in your back yard. WAKE UP, Woodstock is over, put down your bong, look around and see what socialist welfare states did to the rest of the world and how they failed.
Enough with the political blame game people, that won’t keep the Ugly Moose from staying closed. Instead why don’t we all put our energy into figuring out a way to help the store stay open. Let’s show our kids how much we value the quality of life the town of Industry offers. I have spent all my summerw on the lake and I for one would be willing to give my free time to insure that someday I can walk with my grandchildren down to the store for some sort of treat. How many of you out there want the same thing?
Bob has obviously never been to Europe, which has socialist systems in all its countries and is the most civilized, economically and culturally vibrant place in the world. Europe was not hit hard by the economic crisis exactly because it did not carry out the greedy profit thyself at the expense of thy neighbor capitalism perpetuated by the Bush administration. The people here (I live in the UK) are now protected from job losses, the tremendous costs of health crises in their families, and greedy banks because they have the socialist protections in place that the US does not. German unemployment is near an all time low – 6%. At its worst the UK had 7% unemployment during the crisis. This is the American average BEFORE 2008. There is a myth carried on by people like Bob that Europe is struggling, but if you live here, as I do, you quickly understand that Europe’s struggles are nothing in comparison to Americas. I will give you one more example: the British govt last week CUT benefits a family can claim down to $41,000 annually. Most Mainers dont even come close to making that much. No sort of comprehensive protections for families exist like this in America and it is precisely because of greedy republican policy that favors getting rich over helping others or protecting the environment. And no, people here don’t suffer from a lack of work ethic or disproportionately take advantage of the system. Why? Because they know they are all in it together. If you don’t believe me Bob take a trip to Norway or Germany or Holland or Britain. See for yourself. And by the way, I’m over getting a masters from one of the universities in the world in business administration. I’m not a hippie or even close to one. Maybe it is time for you to wake up.
It is amazing how many people take the unfortunate circumstances of someone else and turn it around to support their own personal, and political agenda. My family’s time on Clearwater has been some of the best times of our life. We love the lake and the Moose, and hope Gary can figure out some way to make it work. I do believe the angry, negative, mean-spirited sentiments of some, reflect really badly on the wonderful, supportive community, of Industry, Maine.
According to the world fact book, the unemployment rate in the E.U as of May .2010 stands at 9.7% The U.K stands at 7.8%. France is at 10% as of June 2010,Germany 6.8%. Spain at 20.5%. Italy 8.4%. Somebody needs to tell Jack that some of us dumb Americans can read newspapers, watch the news and even think a little bit., Jack says Europe is “most civilized, economically and culturally vibrant place in the world.” That may be ,then again we are talking about countries where you cant buy a .22 shell at your local store to shoot the woodchuck eating your garden,(too violent, uncivilized) and have a tax on everything but the air one breathes. We see whats going on in Europe what with the money running out on the welfare state they have created there, We see all those riots ,fires,and violence in the street Jack. Is this the people over there practicing being “culturally vibrant “? In spite of the mistakes we make over here Jack,Americans built the most powerful nation in the history of man, without the help from any “socialist systems “, God knows we have some people in government that hate this country and think socialism is the way to go.Good luck with your degree Jack, and everything else, however, for me, I ‘ll just stay right here in the states and stumble along in ignorance,and freedom to do what I want with my life, with as little help from government as possible.That pioneer spirit that built this country is still alive and well today.This couple that are closing their store down is a sad thing, and I dont know them, but something tells me they will do well ,wherever they go, through hard work and determination, and freedom to control their own lives..The very roots of our country.Good luck to Gary and Denise Smith.
Nicely done hozhed!
Beth, maybe if people are aware of the conditions that caused this unfortunate circumstance, we can all work together to keep it from happening over and over again. Prosperity for Maines citizens is not a “personal or political agenda”.
Thank you Gary for the years that you did make it work. Your store was a gem.
We have always loved the Moose. My 9 year-old soon uses “uglymoose” for most of his passwords. It is so sad to see such a great spot go. As a property owner in Industry, I hope we are fortunate to have someone as great as Gary buy the place and give it a go.
Here’s hoping!
Richard, Oh Please…everyone can spin any situation to their position, you put your spin on this…
I love that store . I laughed the first time I saw the funny moose sign. the food is awesome. Who is gouing to run the store now ?.. and are they going to have the food still ?.. it would be a good idea for us local people over in Industry. thank’s. and good luck .
I just learned of this closing when I did a brief search for the store… I had a cabin nearby that I sold a few years ago, so I haven’t been by lately. I loved stopping at The Ugly Moose and canoeing on the lake…. Gary and his wife were terrific and I’ll miss them.
It amazes me to see that somehow they can blame Pres. Bush for a store closing in a small Maine town in 2011.