INDUSTRY — If early responses are any indication, the opening of Lukers Place has both summer and year-round residents here excited.

The lakeside town’s only store, The Ugly Moose, closed last October after a nine-year run, leaving residents with at least a five-mile drive for a soda or a carton of milk.

The family has received overwhelming support from the community for the opening of the small convenience store on July 1, owner Karen Luker said.

“Everyone is really excited. Many locals and summer residents staying on the lake have been in telling us how good the food is and expressing how grateful the community is to have a store,” she said.

Along with milk and soda, Lukers Place offers a variety of sandwiches, pizza, coffee and pastries with seating offered inside and outside where customers can enjoy a spectacular view of Clearwater Lake and the mountains in the distance.

“We’re the only store between Anson and Farmington,” she said.

Living near the store, two of Edward and Karen Luker’s sons, Ian and Nick, formerly worked summers for The Ugly Moose. Both in college, they lost their summer jobs, she said.

“We really wanted to try a family venture,” she said of the new business that also involves a daughter, Miranda Harvell, and another son, Elijah. “We’re working as a family, having fun and serving the community.”

The town really needs a store, a place to buy food and it’s a great community place, she added.

Customers stopped to enjoy a cup of coffee Tuesday morning while they waited for sandwiches. Many are making requests and sharing advice for the future success of the business.

Scones and some baked goods line the counter and many are asking for pies just as those offered by the former Kyes Store located next door in what was the grange hall before it was torn down. Young swimmers enjoy the water and are already coming by for candy after the swim like they did at Kyes, she said.

“We’ve tried to make it more a Maine town store with lower prices,” she said of many of the items on their menu.

Lukers Place is now open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.and the family intends to stay open all year, although the hours may change as winter nears, Harvell said. Limited convenience items and beer and alcohol are expanding as the family learns what the community wants.

“We were really busy over the weekend,” Harvell said. “The locals are happy. Before they had to drive all the way to Farmington to get a soda.”

Along with the sandwiches and pizza, a variety of breakfast items are on the menu, Nick Luker said. Italian sandwiches and breakfast sandwiches appear to be the most popular, he said.

They have borrowed a few ideas from the former owner and revamped them to make them their own way, he said.

Specials for winter ice fishermen and snowmobilers are planned, Karen said. Many will focus on the season with hot soups and chowders this winter. Dishes featuring local  produce such as apples are planned according to the season, she said.

The family is grateful for the way the community has supported and encouraged them, Karen Luker said.

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