Maker to Main to close Main Street shop, open larger Canal District grocery store
Photo | Timothy Doyle
Maker to Main personnel from left: Stephanie Hunter, Lynn Cheney, and Jes Blatchley
Photo | Timothy Doyle
Maker to Main's Main Street location
Photo | Google Maps
Restauranteur Ed Russo purchased the former location of Harding Glass four months after buying the former location of Harding Tire next door.
Locally sourced food seller Maker to Main will close its store on Worcester’s Main Street in March and open a larger, more complete grocery store in the Canal District.
Maker to Main announced on Tuesday, the store’s third anniversary, it would close its 328 Main St. location on March 25.
The business will reopen in the former location of Harding Glass at 166 Harding St. in Worcester’s Canal District, said Owner and Chief Local Officer Lynn Cheney. The new location will offer the area more of a complete grocery store than the current location.
The Harding Street location will feature a deli counter for sliced meats and a kitchen so the store can offer prepared foods.
There will also be parking available for customers on Pond St.
Cheney was unable to provide an opening date for the new location because of the many factors involved, but interior demolition work is underway at the site.
Cheney said she was considering a Canal District location before she opened the shop on Main Street. When she opened in March 2020, there were several projects proposed for the downtown area.
But the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with the opening, and Cheney fought to survive while nearby projects dried up.
“A lot of the revitalization hasn’t come to fruition, at no fault of anyone,” said Cheney.
Cheney wrote in her statement, “Recently, someone I greatly admire mentioned they were struck by the vast number of vacant buildings they saw while walking a few blocks to my store. I explained that yes, some were vacated recently, but many are empty due to postponed or abandoned projects.
“The pandemic also brought a largely remote workforce, keeping Main Street from being a bustling and business-essential foot-traffic area. Add in confusing parking, much of which is metered, and you have an environment that greatly impedes a business’ ability to thrive,” she wrote.
With construction on several major Canal District developments underway and hundreds of additional apartments proposed, Cheney sees a strong market on the horizon.
While optimistic, she has mixed feelings about leaving the original location. Before announcing the move, she began alerting her loyal customers upstairs from her shop and nearby who rely on the shop for fresh food.
“Even though we will be leaving Main Street, this is a very exciting time for Maker to Main. We ask that you be patient, as all good things take time,” wrote Cheney.
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A ( 7/11) store can't even survive downtown.....says it all
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