East Calais General Store
Renovation Project

2019-2023

The Challenge

In 2019 the previous store operator went out of business, and the store lease was terminated. This necessitated bringing the commercial store space up to current building codes before reopening. The building had fallen into disrepair and required significant updating to both the store area and the three residential apartments to ensure public safety and retain the historical integrity of the building.

Community Decision-Making

Through surveys, open meetings, social media, and other outreach we engaged the local community in planning for the best use of the building. Through that process we determined that the the East Calais village store will:

• Create a new business opportunity and new local jobs.

• Provide a gathering spot and coffee shop-like amenities that attract citizens both old and young to village centers. New residents to the town use a country store to meet residents and neighbors and to access high-speed internet. This facilitates local and regional strategies that encourage density of population in village centers rather than scattered development of rural sites that consume agricultural land, inhibit wildlife corridors and deplete sensitive ecological resources.

• Provide sustainable food security to our residents and a source of income for our local farmers.

• Provide needed affordable rental housing.

• Inspire the renovation of other important historic structures that help preserve community identity.

• Serve as a community gathering space for small/outdoor events, and a stop-over for people who enjoy the many lakes, walking trails, bicycling, and snowmobiling in the Calais area.

Acquiring the Building

When we started our fundraising drive in early 2020 to purchase the building at 4520 Vermont Route 14 and revitalize the store, we did not anticipate all the challenges we would encounter. Despite many obstacles our community supported us with tremendous generosity, contributing the initial $162,500 that helped us pay for all building inspections, removal of the gas storage tanks, and the subsequent purchase of the building in June 2020, which was our first objective.

In June of 2020, thanks to the support of the community, the ECCT was able to purchase the building and hired a cost estimator to give us an approximate idea of the costs to renovate the building. This estimate included deconstruction (removing the old garage) and all renovation to both the commercial and apartment areas and came in at $1.02 million; renovation costs increased dramatically, and additional code and historical preservation compliance requirements further increased the costs of the project.  

Fundraising

We reviewed various approaches of other general stores across Vermont. With input from the Preservation Trust of Vermont, we concluded that our community could not privately raise sufficient funds to renovate the building to today’s standards and reopen the store without relying on grants. What’s more, to ensure the viability and long-term success of the store, we determined it was necessary to keep the store rent low, and so we have chosen to carry very little debt on this project. This gave us a better chance of having a successful, sustainable store. We therefore concluded it was necessary to pursue grant monies. While soliciting grants can be a slow and arduous process, in one year’s time we were awarded an astounding $984,500, and more followed. Private donations toward the renovation now total close to $400,000. 

Design & Renovation

Local architect Ryan Edwards developed plans for the renovation with input from ECCT and other local community members, former general store operators, historic preservation specialists, and our grants manager. Public funding required us to hire professional consultants to ensure our project complies with funding requirements including historic preservation, affordable housing, ADA compliance, energy efficiency, and public safety codes.

The COVID-19 pandemic severely increased the costs of construction and led to significant delays on the part of the structural and mechanical engineers we contracted. The actual cost of the renovation rose substantially. The total cost of the project for the store and three apartments is $2.7 million.