Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism program, on assignment for the Winooski News.
On a recent morning, you could find Erica Kingsbury meticulously cooking bacon and eggs over a flattop grill at Chick’s Market. Open at 6 a.m., the longstanding store on the corner of Hickok and River streets is a place for Winooskians to find groceries, meals and great conversation — courtesy of Kingsbury on that recent visit before 7 a.m.
How long has this store been around?
“The store was opened in 1944.”
“Some of the people who worked at Chick’s (before) still work here. The store’s ownership changed over to the Handy family about a year ago.”
Who owned it when, and when did it change hands?
Pam and Sonny Vezina were the original owners, she said.
What is it like opening early, when so many other shops sleep in until around 10 or 11 a.m.?
“Sometimes when I open in the morning, people are already outside waiting. People rely on us before work — they come in, get their coffee, cigarettes and breakfast.”
How is it possible to get a roast beef sandwich at 6 a.m.?
“We prepare everything every morning and get it all ready to go. From the moment we open, you can get breakfast, sandwiches or anything you would like.”
How was the menu developed? What about the layout of the store? Is it consistent with how it was when it was originally built?
Originally, she said, Chick’s was more of a grocery store, with hanging deli meat.
“They sold more prepared and packaged meats out of a deli case, such as hamburgers.”
“We still sell sandwich meat and hamburgers, but it was more of a grocery store originally. We have tried to keep everything consistent with the way the original Vezina family had it.”