Christie’s is 85 years young this year.
To celebrate, the country market returns to its (ho ho) roots.
Every Sunday through November, the rustic store on residential Cross Highway hosts a farmer’s market. Like the popular market itself, it’s both funky and fun.
And get this: Christie’s owners John and Renee Hooper don’t charge the farmers or other vendors a cent.
Nor do they ask for any percentage of sales.
“We’re just trying to serve the community,” Renee says.
They’re doing more than trying. They’re succeeding.
A small part of the large bounty at Christie's farmer's market.
This past Sunday, delighted customers — many with young kids — wandered among the dozen or so stalls. Of course there’s the usual fruits and veggies: cucumbers, peas, tomatoes, potatoes, beans, berries, Swiss chard, arugula and more.
It’s all Connecticut grown. The farmer from Smith’s Acres in Niantic says everything is fresh picked: “Last thing last night, or early this morning.” It doesn’t get fresher than that.
But there’s more. One vendor offers beef, pork and salmon. Nothin’ But Foods sells ginger lemon cashew snack bars, and honey-sweetened granola.
There’s honey, goat soaps, maple syrup, hot and cool pickles. Mirabelle — most recently on Main Street — is at Christie’s, selling cheeses out of a mobile unit.
Plus candles and art cards. And a pair of singer/guitar players, Dave Allen and Mark Ehmann, whose soft music lends just the right background to the market.
The duo plays next to Frosty Bear, the ice cream gazebo that gives new meaning to coconut chocolate chip and other amazing flavors.
“Families love this,” Renee says proudly. “And the farmers are thrilled.”
Frank and his olive oils.
“People are so nice,” says Frank, of the Olive Oil Factory. “Everyone is friendly, and the owners are very easy-going.
“There are no hassles. Most places like this have all these silly rules.”
And, Frank adds, “I appreciate that they don’t use plastic bags.”
Back in the day — 1926, to be exact — Christie’s started out as a market for goods grown on the farm surrounding it. It was a true “farmer’s market.”
Today it hosts a 2011 version of that same idea. The goat soap and granola may be new — but if Christie Masiello magically returned to Cross Highway, she’d definitely recognize the place.
And the peas and beans.
(Christie’s farmer’s market hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Coming this fall: harvest goods — and wine.)
Give credit where credit is due, Tim Purcell owns Christies (the store and the service area) afaik.
I believe John and Renee Hooper own the store. Tim owns the service station.
Timmy owns the whole place. Great guy. Hooper is a tenant who complains about the rent.
. . . . and never smiles. We miss Dodie.
Tim (actually Christies Realty llc) bought the store in Nov 2008. Tim’s a Purcell, a great local family, as you know. I wish the current operators of Christies much success, having ridden my bike there every day when I was a young kid to get my candy fix (back when Christie, Mary and Don Masiello were behind the counter) I like to see such things persist.
The store has great sandwiches and burritos !
I used to love Christies growing up. Teddy Wakeman and me used to go over there and hang out after playing in his orchards. It also rivaled the Merritt Superette in convenience and availability of anything you could possibly need.
Now they have tried to go upscale, everything is overpriced and I don’t feel the love . . .. Timmy, as he did my father, still services my car. He is the best of Westport.