Up in the Adirondacks, just a little north of Lake Placid, sits the Village of Saranac Lake. It is a community known for it's beautiful scenery, frontier attitude and, for a few years, as a place you couldn't get something important.
"The standing joke was underwear, you couldn't buy underwear in Saranac Lake," said Alan Brown, one of the founders of The Community Store.
The local Ames closed back in the early 2000's forcing people who lived in Saranac Lake to drive 50 miles to Plattsburgh or Malone just to shop. This October, that changed when the community opened the doors of The Community Store.
"We just wanted to fill the gaps," said Brown.
This store is unique in that the community actually owns it.
"We we have 600 plus shareholders across New York State who put their money in to make this happen," said Melinda Little, another founder.
As far as they know it is the first store of its kind in the state, modeled after one in Wyoming. One of that stores founders came to the area in 2006 and the village was inspired.
"At the end of the meeting the question was raised who would buy shares and almost universally hands went up," said Little.
Little and Brown were among those who bought shares. They are also part of the founding team. From 2007, to the end of 2011, through the financial meltdown they sold shares. They raised more than $500,000. This past fall they opened the doors.
"Every time I walk in here I think this actually happened! I'm still walking on air," said Brown.
And like its name, it is for the community. The store brings in the things customers say they need at a price that is competitive.
"We want to give back as much as is taken, keeping it local, bringing the dollars here and keeping it fresh and fun," said Craig Waters, the Manager of the store. "Because at the end of the day you'll come back and that's all we ask."
You could call the project innovative or call it the spirit of the Adirondacks. But at the root of it all, it is neighbors investing in their community, never expecting to see returns, just hoping for a better quality of life.
"It is local folks taking control, seeing a problem and finding a solution. That's very much a spirit in Saranac Lake," said Little.
