TOWNSHIP 16, RANGE 4 (AP) – The 10-cent cup of coffee is history, at least along northern Maine’s Madawaska Lake.

That’s because Stan Thomas, the 69-year-old owner of Stan’s Grocery, is retiring after 40 years. Thomas and two friends were cleaning out the dilapidated, century-old building Friday, storing or selling leftover stock and sharing memories.

Thomas is something of a legend in the region, and his store was more than just a grocery. It was the region’s post office, a voting place, a tackle shop and a Saturday night entertainment center where people listened to music, talked and sang.

Thomas said it’s time for him to step down after putting in long hours – sometimes 18 to 20 hours a day – and forgoing vacations all these years. He said the store hasn’t closed for a single day since he bought it 40 years ago. “It’s called burning the candle at both ends,” he said, chuckling, his fingers twitching. “Despite all that, it’s been a pretty good life.”

The store is about 100 years old, has gone through four owners and been featured in numerous newspaper articles, on television and in several magazines, including Down East and Yankee.

CSS Development of Caribou bought Stan’s Grocery and its 2.5 acres of land that stretch from the shore of Madawaska Lake to Route 161.

A member of the group would not discuss specific plans, but said in an e-mail message that CSS intends to keep the current use and atmosphere of Stan’s and is looking for an operator to continue the tradition of having a public meeting place and restaurant for the lake community.

Still, locals say Thomas’ departure is a huge loss.

The closure, even if temporary, is viewed as a funeral of sorts.

Brenda Jepson, a local resident and historian, recalled Thomas’ father reciting poems to customers, the deer head on a wall, the old signs hanging here and there. There was a piano against the back wall, a spoon collection belonging to Stan’s father, Saturday night singalongs and a stuffed salmon behind the counter.

“Everyone is waiting to see what will happen with the place,” Jepson said. “He has never closed for one day. What are we going to do?”

Thomas hasn’t decided what he will do. He has a farm in Woodland, a woodworking shop he bought 25 years ago and has never had the time to set up, thousands of feet of pine lumber he’s never done anything with, and 12 to 15 antique autos he hasn’t had the chance to touch in a long time.

Never married – he said he’s been “married to the store” – Thomas is sure he won’t stay idle.

“I have enough to keep busy,” he said.

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com

AP-ES-01-22-05 1334EST

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