WESTPORT — Residents here were shocked and mystified to find one of the village's best-known establishments, Ernie's Market, had closed — for one of the few times in anyone's memory.
A sign found on the door Monday says: "Closed until further notice. Thank you to all of our loyal customers. We do appreciate you."
Building owners Carolyn and Bruce Ware had run the establishment, located at 12 Champlain Ave. (Route 22), from 1990 to 2005, when they began leasing it to Eric and Dawn Gay. Neither could be reached for this article.
Mrs. Ware felt, in large part, the closing had to do with the economy.
"A lot of people are no longer going out to eat. They're brown-bagging it.
"I was concerned that it might close."
The market included a popular deli and also served pizza.
Mrs. Ware said the store dates back to the turn of the 19th century. Some remember it as Braham's and then Hill's before it became Ernie's, named for Ernie Gerrard.
Ernie and his wife, Florence, had operated it, beginning sometime in the 1950s, for many years.
"It was a lot of fun running it because you got to meet everyone," Mrs. Ware said. "We called it 'The Hub,' as people would call before coming to Westport and want to know the ice conditions and the weather."
'VERY GOOD FOOD'
"I can tell you one thing, they didn't close from lack of business from me," Kathryn Cramer joked on her Facebook page. "I have been on the Ernie's diet. Now that they closed, what will I eat?"
Glenn Mattson, a driver for Brant Lake Taxi, had been in the habit of stopping in for submarine sandwich at Ernie's about once a week.
"I could always smell the subs from the outside," he said. "They served very good food. Whenever I stopped by at lunchtime, there were always several customers."
"We always hate to lose a business," said Westport Town Supervisor Daniel Connell. "I can only hope that it will reopen soon.
"It's extremely difficult to keep a business open in a small Adirondack town, and each winter it gets more difficult."
Ernie's, said Connell, "has been a staple in the community forever.
"This is another reason we started the Future of Westport Committee four years ago, to address these issues and support our local businesses. There have been fewer year-round residents, and it's tough to keep a business going in the winter."
'IT'S PAINFUL'
Dee Carroll, a member of the Westport Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, was shocked to find the market closed.
"I knew, economically, they were having a difficult time. I feel it's really sad. Unfortunately, one-fourth of the people of Westport disappear over the winter months. It's painful.
"I remember when Bob and I first came here in 1969, when Ernie ran the business," Carroll said. "You could always get good meat and cheeses. Ice fishermen would bring their catches to sell. And there were some that, if they weren't successful, would buy fish at the market.
"When the lake stopped freezing, it affected business. Boaters would also stock up at Ernie's and Everybody's (Everybody's Market, which is still open).
"We are all in this together."
Though the property is up for sale, the Wares plan to reopen the market themselves around March 15, if there are no buyers.
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