On a busy afternoon, Beth Richards and her team were hard at work packing more than 100 meals at the recently relocated home of Local Baskit, a cook-at-home meal service formerly situated in Concord.

The company now operates out of Hopkinton’s beloved corner store, Barrel and Baskit.

For more than two centuries, the iconic corner store has graced of Main Street near town hall, wearing different names - Cracker Barrel, Hopkinton Village Store - as ownership changed each marking a different chapter in its history.

However, this time around, after a period of closure for renovations, the store has reopened with a new look and fresh identity, introducing modern elements while still retaining the characteristics of a traditional general store.

When Richards, the store owner heard from residents how much the community loved and valued the store, she decided she had the responsibility to maintain its reputation.

“The community has just been so responsive to the restoration of the building and the reopening of the store,” said Richards. “We can’t keep things in stock, which is not a bad problem.”

In supporting the local community, the store offers residents an array of local products, such as Contoocook Milk, and has partnered with local bakers like Blakeney’s Bread, while also offering freshly prepared breakfast and lunch sandwiches from the in-store kitchen.

The store has also reintroduced popular dishes like lemon pepper chicken and marinated steak tips.

While preserving the essence of a traditional general store, where people can pick up staples such as eggs, butter, flour, and batteries, the store also offers a gathering space with tables where neighbors can converse or unwind after a tiring day.

“For a number of us in the community, we’ve been waiting with bated breath for quite some time for the store to be revitalized,” said Heather Lavoie, a Hopkinton resident, explaining how relieved she was to see the store reopen.

One distinctive element of the latest edition of the store is the inclusion of a dedicated section for hosting events. From cooking classes and wine-tasting sessions to wellness classes and more, these events aim to foster a sense of community 

“It’s going to be back to feeling like that community gathering spot,” said Richards, highlighting the new addition.

Richards emphasized the instrumental role of the building’s owners, Anna Wells and Dulcie Lipoma, in revitalizing the landmark store and guaranteeing its preservation and future operation.

“I’m not going anywhere and I’m planning to be here for a long time,” said Richards. “The three of us really shared the vision to make this here for another 100 years.”

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