RUMFORD – The popular Four Corners convenience store will reopen by the end of the month as Mountain Valley Variety.
Rumford native Rick Breau, who also owns Rick’s Market in Wilton, is the new owner. “It’s great to be back in my hometown,” said Breau as he surveyed the changes that have been made and talked about changes to come.
Four Corners closed in April, disappointing customers who dropped by everyday for coffee and gossip, and the store’s 13 part- and full-time employees.
Some employees will be back, said Breau.
Longtime Four Corners manager Sue Clark is one of them. She helped run the store for owners Wilfred Blouin and Dennis DiConzo for more than 20 years. The two owned the store for 26 years. Breau said several of the former employees also have applied for the expected 10 to 12 full- and part-time jobs. Applications are being taken at the store site.
Breau said the former owners approached him about the possibility of buying the store, located at the high-profile corner of Lincoln Avenue and Hancock Street.
“My place in Wilton is running well and everything is running smooth. I buy stores. This is all I know,” he said.
When he was younger, he was a milk delivery man for Oakhurst Dairy. One of his stops was the Four Corners store. “I knew the owners,” he said.
The former store also was a big promoter of the Mountain Valley Falcons. As a graduate of Rumford High School, Breau plans to continue that support.
He is making big changes. The lot has been paved, the store painted, and there are lots of other changes being made inside and outside. There’s new equipment, floors, ceilings and walls.
Gasoline, pizzas, sandwiches, some of the old menu and some new items, along with platters, will be offered at the store.
“I can’t wait for it to open and get things running,” he said.
Comments are no longer available on this story