New local shop sells from the hearth

Author: Emily Thompson

Vermont's Own may appear to be another tourist shop along Main Street from the outside, but the inside offers food and condiments that any epicurean could appreciate. The store opened this past summer on June 21 by Dana and Lorraine Franklin of Addison. The couple also owns another store under the same name in Addison, which is smaller and carries different products. The married couple has been working with the concept of selling and exposing local Vermont products for 20 years this year.

The owners see no true competition within downtown Middlebury. Although other stores may sell wine and cheese, none exclusively sell Vermont made products. Someone not native to Vermont would not believe how many products the state or even Addison Country could create. Cheri, the manager who is also the Franklins' daughter, says that Vermont's Own should be seen as a "one-stop for Vermont-made products. Our goal is to promote what the state has to offer."

The store features everything from rhubarb wine to wall hangings bemoaning teenagers. The most ridiculous of the posters is "Raising a teenager is like nailing jello to a tree." Vermont's Own has plenty to offer for when the parents come to town or for culinary holiday gifts. The best-selling item is maple syrup and other maple products, followed by their homemade fudge, candles and Bennington pottery.

By supporting local products, the Franklins have in turn greatly contributed to the local economy. Many local farmers, food processors, and artists find themselves locked out of the corporate world, which looks for more marketable and cheaper goods.

Stores like Vermont's Own provide them an outlet through which they can sell their goods and generate money in order to fund their future endeavors. Because the local economy depends so much on tourism, the success of local businesses is volatile, rising and falling as the seasons change. Opening in the summer allowed Vermont's Own to build up steady revenue before the leaves and in turn the profits fall.

The store bills itself more as a tourist attraction than as a place for students to come and buy their dorm food, which seems appropriate, considering a package of cheese can cost up to $28. With parents' weekend around the corner and holiday season only a few months away, Vermont's Own hopes to pick up its profits very soon.

The Middlebury branch remains quite small with only three employees. Like the staff, the décor of the store is minimalist, with a large emphasis on the food and accessories. The dark wood shelves allow the array of jams and mustards to stand out from their perch. The selection of specialty foods and local pottery outdoes the minimalist atmosphere of the store. Vermont's Own may not be the everyday place to shop for many of the locals or students, but when a special event arises or the knowledge that the purchase will contribute to a local business, it is the perfect place to find a culinary delight.