WILTON – It’s time for a break.

This Memorial Day weekend will be the first one that Steve Jones has had off in 23 years.

Jones, of Farmington, has had enough of the long hours, working holidays and the daily grind of owning and operating Steve’s Market on Depot Street in Dryden.

At least for now.

Jones is selling the market Wednesday to Rick Breau of Bethel.

“It was just like a light switch went off a few months ago,” Jones said of his decision to sell. “It’s a lot of responsibility, a lot of hours …I’m definitely going to miss the people and the business.”

He said during Christmas week it’s typical he works 100 to 110 hours a week with the family’s catering business.

Breau is getting back into the business after serving as food service director of the Bethel school system for the past year.

Breau had owned and operated Breau’s Pizza and Subs in Bethel and Breau’s Too in Bryant Pond in the past and missed the business, Breau said. About 16 years ago, he had worked for Oakhurst Dairy.

“I’m a businessman,” Breau said Monday.

He’ll be keeping everything the same, except the name.

Steve’s Market will eventually become Rick’s Market, Breau said.

“Everything works down there,” Breau said. “I’m not going to fix something that’s not broke.”

Jones was packing up stuff in the basement of the store Monday. He’ll be there to help Breau transition for about a month.

Jones bought the market 23 years ago last month after serving in the U.S. Air Force.

He soon realized owning his own business was quite different than his favorite job of working at Shop ‘n Save.

Jones and his wife, Rhonda, and two daughters, Jenny, 18, and Kristin, 16, have worked over time to expand the store into more than offering just staples, adding take-out food and a catering business. There is also a Dunkin’ Donuts satellite eat-in franchise in the store.

Jones has been an integral part of the community, helping people when he could, especially those down on their luck.

“I’ve always tried to be a good neighbor of the community,” Jones said. “They’ve always been good at supporting me, too.”

When the original store burned in the early 1990s, the community turned out to help.

Jones never forgot.

But now it’s time for something different, he said, though he doesn’t know what yet. He sold his North Jay store about 18 months ago.

He’ll be starting over.

“I’m nervous but excited and sad,” he said. “There’s a zillion feelings going through me. It’s going to be real different. My kids are sad, especially my youngest.”

Jones, who has his real estate brokers license, has received a few offers to go into the business, he said, but he doesn’t know if that’s what he’ll do.

“I have all kinds of hobbies but nothing you can make money at,” he said.

A clause in his contract with Breau prohibits him from competing with the new owner within 25 miles for five years.

Trophies from a men’s softball team the store sponsors are being donated to a youth sports league. He’ll leave one of his ping pong tables in the basement, the other one’s going to his garage. He was a Class B state table tennis champion in 1997.

More than 600 customers a day pass through Steve’s Market, he said.

More than a few of them were in line Monday.

“We’re really going to miss him,” employee Deanna DiBiasio said. “He’s like the best guy.”

Employee Marsha Eldridge agreed.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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