Special to the Transcript
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, small town grocery stores hold a special place in the hearts of their communities. These stores are more than just places to buy food; they are the beating heart of the community. As the Winthrop Marketplace celebrates its 25th anniversary, it is a time to reflect on what this accomplishment means to us.
Over the last 25 years, The Winthrop Marketplace has been a place for neighbors to gather to catch up, share stories, and forge connections. We serve as a meeting point where people from all walks of life come together, creating a sense of belonging and camaraderie. We pride ourselves on knowing our customers by name and creating a sense of familiarity and warmth that is hard to find in larger chain stores. One of our core principles is providing personalized customer service that goes above and beyond. Our staff takes the time to get to know their customers’ preferences, offering tailored recommendations and going the extra mile to ensure a positive shopping experience. A huge difference between being a corporate supermarket and being the Winthrop Marketplace is that we have let our customers dictate to us what they would like to see on our shelves. We have changed our store layout and product category sections as has been demanded. As our customers have become more diverse, we have changed with the times to keep up with our customers’ needs.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit us back in 2020, no one was prepared for the world to shut down and no one really talked about essential workers. But we quickly learned how vital of a service we provide. Literally overnight, we became the community hub for food and social interaction, all while working with town officials to ensure that our food pantry and families in need have the food and resources that they needed. This was achieved by adapting to the constantly changing environment and maintaining an open and honest dialogue with our customers. With all of the shortage and delivery delays, our customers and staff displayed patience, understanding, and above all, appreciation. Hopefully, we will never have to go through anything like that again, but we are happy to know that we were able to find success by working together with our community.
Since the time we opened in 1999, we have made it one of our missions to support the community that shops and supports us. From little league teams and girl scout troops to the Winthrop school system and churches, and many more organizations to name, we have been proud to donate over $200,000 to these causes. And we do this because it is the right thing to do; giving back to the community that has supported us through the many years.
All of this is possible because of the amazing employees that we have in our store. We have employed close to 1,000 people at the Winthrop Marketplace. From the high school student getting their first job and learning time management, customer service and organizational skills to the recent retiree that still wants to be a part of a team, our employees make the Winthrop Marketplace. And our managers are top notch; facilitating a positive, yet hardworking atmosphere. In addition, we have had the pleasure of employing staff members with special needs. Not only have these employment opportunities allowed these workers to build confidence and feel connected to others, they have allowed us to celebrate our differences and strive for a more inclusive environment where all are welcome.
As this small town grocery store celebrates its 25th anniversary, it is a testament to our enduring values that we have become part of the fabric of the community. Here’s to many more years of serving as the heart of the community and continuing to be a cherished part of this small-town life.