MARBLEHEAD — Whether it’s groceries or even a quick sandwich, the Marblehead Community Store has been open on Beacon Street to serve the community for half a century.
But as with all small businesses, this year has been anything but business as usual. With the pandemic in full swing, MCS shut its doors a few times, including a long stint at the end of the summer.
The future of the store was in limbo heading into the fall before an unlikely source took things over.
“I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” said Abdul Hanan of Attleboro. “Marblehead is a good community and I could offer them more.”
And after working things out to run the half of the building, which also includes the Beacon Hill Imports liquor store, Hanan began his journey to do just that in September.
“We were having issues but eventually we ended up getting the lease, so everything went well from there,” Hanan said.
Hanan, 27, hopes to bring plenty of new, organic options to the store’s produce, but also keep that local flavor that the community has grown to love.
“We’re adding in a lot of natural and organic things,” Hanan said. “That’s really getting done in the coming weeks. Tuesday and Wednesday we’re getting a lot of organic produce and groceries.
“But the meat will taste the same,” Hanan said. “We aren’t touching the meat because we have a lot of customers who are accustomed to it. I’m just trying to put more options out there.”
It’s an exciting time for the store after what has been a busy last few months.
“It’s been hectic,” Hanan said. “It’s a lot of learning. I need to know all of this, so it’s just about trying to do all I can and learning day by day. The deli, groceries, there’s all kinds of stuff that you have to learn first. And I’m still learning now.”
But the Marblehead Community Store has still been able to offer the same deals that keep locals shopping small in a community with plenty of options.
This Halloween the store is offering a deal of buy three cheese pizzas and get one free. They’re also currently taking Plainville Turkey orders for Thanksgiving while offering delivery for $10 during the pandemic.
It’s all possible thanks to what’s at the heart of the store says Hanan — the employees, 20 in total, some of whom have been around for decades, and the community.
“We have a lot of loyal customers and a better group of employees,” Hanan said. “Most of them have been here for more than 20 years. They’ve helped me learn anything I need to and there’s been plenty of that. It’s a lot of payroll but it’s definitely worth it.”
Daniel Kane can be reached at [email protected].
