Spring’s arrival brings shop reopenings
By Erik Pekar, Town Historian
Spring has sprung, and with it last week came a taste of warmer weather, with temperature highs of more than 60 degrees for much of the week. The snow has all but disappeared from the landscape; the only remnants are part of dirt piles in the parking lots of big stores, strip malls or the distant enclosed malls, as well as some small spots the size of large floor rugs in the hills near Pawlet and Wells.
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The spring weather usually is a harbinger that practicing for spring sports would soon transfer from the gymnasiums and hallways of the school, depending on the sport, to holding practices outside. This year, however, everything is different in this regard. Fall sports are instead the ones resuming practices outside in the Fall II season, and there have already been games held. The winter sports season prior was also different, as only the basketball teams and bowling were active. Granville’s bowling team won 40 out of 48 games during the season, finishing second in the league to Fort Edward.
With the exception of bowling, there was no athletic activity in the Granville schools for nearly a year until February. The Fall II season is in full swing, and it is good seeing our Granville athletes playing sports again. Good luck to all, and go Horde!
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With the arrival of spring, it is the time when the car hops and drive-ins begin to reopen after being closed during the winter months.
The village car hop has reopened for the season. Opening day for MacDaddy’s Car Hop was Friday, March 19. Open days were initially announced to be Thursday through Sunday, but because of the warm spring weather, the decision was made last Monday to be open all week. New additions planned for this year will include the building of a canopy over the deck and a small bar inside that will serve beer and wine. “I want to make things nicer [here],” said owner Andy McEachron. “I’m trying to take care of people and have fun – that’s the big thing here – I want everyone to have fun.” There are some new menu items being planned, one of which is a small 12-inch pizza made from tortilla wrap. There may also be specials, including roast beef. “I’m not looking to make a fortune,” continued McEachron. “I’m just looking to make this everyone’s happy place.” MacDaddy’s is located at 45 Quaker Street, next to the village hall, and is open seven days a week.
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Middle Granville’s own car hop won’t be closed for much longer. Jen’s Pit Stop will reopen for the season before the month’s end. Owner Jen Vanderminden hasn’t revealed any new additions or menu items at this time, but it is likely there will be new things this year for the customers of Middle’s popular eatery. Jen’s Pit Stop is located at 39 State Route 22A in Middle Granville, at its corner with Detour Road, just north of the flashing traffic lights where Route 22A meets Route 22.
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Morse’s Diner and Pizzeria has gone out of business. A sign noting “Closed – Out of Business” went up on March 17. Owner Bill Morse bought the former Scotties building and adjacent vacant lot back in November 2019, and over the next three months put much hard work and effort and hundreds of thousands of dollars towards renovating the building into his own business.
Morse continued making improvements to the business after it opened in February of last year. He added an air conditioning system last summer. On the adjacent vacant lot, he added a retaining wall and filled in and leveled the land to create an outdoor dining area. One of the last improvements made was the replacement of the panel glass window in the vestibule to the left of the door with a wall and a smaller window, done in mid-February. Bill Morse’s efforts with Morse’s Diner and Pizzeria breathed new life into the building and Granville’s Main Street. It is unfortunate to see Morse’s go out of business. Hopefully someone will take interest, purchase the building and reopen the business as their own.
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NYVTmedia, the former Manchester Newspapers, has moved to Quaker Street. Their new home is in the Big Lots Plaza, 71 Quaker Street. Manchester Newspapers and the Sentinel office had moved to 14 East Main Street in November 1995, from the longtime location of 6 North Street. The move to the strip mall location was made primarily because the former location on East Main Street was too large and no longer a good fit for the business. NYVTmedia’s new office is the first store on the left in the Big Lots plaza, to the left of the vacant space formerly occupied by AJ’s Restaurant.
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Those who are considering opening a business on Main Street have several buildings to consider for purchase. The former TD Bank building, 6 Main Street, at the corner of Main and North Streets, is for sale at $110,000. The Manchester building at 14 East Main Street is available for $220,000. Morse’s Diner and Pizzeria is for sale at $295,000; this includes the building, 20 Main Street; the equipment inside the building, and the adjacent lot. The 38 Main Street building is also available at $89,000. The mentioned properties are being handled by Country Horizon Realty except for the Manchester building, which is being handled by New England Lakeside Realty. New businesses would be welcomed to Granville. Hopefully Granville, and Main Street, will have some new businesses this year.
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