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Celebrating a Forty Year Partnership: Pratt’s Store & Bridport

photo provided Pratt’s Store : L-R Diane Gurvitz, Darwin Pratt, Sue Pratt, Hillary Stone, Devyn Pratt (in front), Stacey Stone, Ashley Rouse, Corey Pratt and Bruce Stocker

Tuesday April 28, 2009

By Cookie Steponaitis

    There has been a store in the heart of Bridport located on the corner of Route 22A and Route 125 since the late 1800’s. Since May 1, 1969 it has been under the stewardship of Darwin Pratt and family. Pratt’s Store is celebrating 40 years of its unique role as a store, community anchor and gathering point with three generations behind the counter serving three generations of patrons.

    “If it wasn’t for the community, we wouldn’t be here,” commented Corey Pratt. “Some of our customers come in six or seven times a day.” These sentiments were echoed by Darwin Pratt who remarked, “We have grown with the community and have tried to give back. When we first opened in 1969 gas was 69 cents a gallon and a six pack of beer was 99 cents. Since our opening day we have strived to be a full service store and have upheld the belief that you treat people the way you want to be treated. People can come in for a pound of hamburger, a full dinner, a spark plug or a tank of gas.”

    While some things have changed in Bridport and at Pratt’s in the last 40 years, others have stayed the same. Over the years a couple of expansions resulted in enlarging the store to its current 2700 square feet, with new gas pumps and a deli. The products found inside have always been geared toward quality and feature local produce and new items are being constantly added to meet needs of the local people. “It is hard to believe some of the items we have sold,” remarked Stacey. “From a 50 pound bag of potatoes to recliners, Christmas trees, lobster, tires and even specialty sandwiches like our Slammin’ Sammy. People have come to expect great prices and local products like Monument Farms Milk, Maple Meadows Eggs and now Wolavers Ben Gleasons White Ale, featuring wheat from Ben Gleason’s farm.”

   While local product is a hallmark, all Pratt’s agree that no job or order is too big to try and they never close a door on a customer. Specialty orders like brown bag lunches for National Guard units, shipping chickens to New York and wedding platters are seen as a welcomed challenge. It comes from the Pratt’s belief that everyone is treated like extended family. “We live in the best possible place,” remarked Corey. Pratt. “People here are dedicated to each other and always willing to do their share. If we picked up Pratt’s Store and moved it, it wouldn’t be the same. We are connected to the community and our roots are here.”

    The month of May will feature many special events sponsored by Darwin, Sue, Corey and Stacey to express their thanks for 40 years of dedicated patronage. Events will include a May 8th Truckload Meat Sale, a May 15th Pizzarama, with some of the proceeds benefitting the Bridport School play ground. And, be on the lookout for 40 cent hotdogs and 40 cent coffee as well as raffles and other giveaways.

    Moving quietly around the family kitchen and outside of the interview, Sue Pratt was quick to chime in and support her husband as Darwin spoke about the dedication of his staff. “We started in 1969 with three employees in the store,” he remembered. “Now we have sixteen full and part-timers. No one has a set job description, but we all work as a team. As the oldest continually family run store in the area, we are so thankful to our employees and our customers. They are family.”

    While technology and times have changed some parts of the operation and a power outage used to mean a flashlight and you were good to go, both Stacey and Corey remember the lessons learned as youth sorting bottles, standing on stools to reach the shelves and using the register for the first time. “Both our grandparents and our dad were the heart of the store,” commented Stacey. “We are fortunate,” added Corey. “They set the stones in place and we are continuing the path and just making it a bit wider.”

    Even though the awards such as the1999 Local Store Keepers Award and the 2008 voted Best General Store keep coming, the Pratt family wants the community to know that, “They love being where they are and treasure each and every customer.” So during the month of May, or just anytime, drop in to see the gang at Pratt’s Store, where for forty years the Pratt family has provided great service, great prices, and valued each customer as family. And, oh yes, where the coffee corner group daily discusses and solves many world issues, one cup at a time. The Valley Voice has been with the Pratt’s since the very beginning and salutes their commitment to Bridport and the people who call this valley their home.

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