Ray’s Corner Variety
celebrates grand opening of dairy bar
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A newly-added dairy bar at Ray’s Corner Variety in Presque Isle is giving patrons a tasty way to cool down this summer.
A 300-square-foot expansion project that began in May has made room not only for the dairy bar, but additional floor space and an office, as well.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
EMPLOYEES at Ray’s Corner Variety in Presque Isle have been busy of late thanks to the addition of a dairy bar. Located at 70 Academy St., the dairy bar provides hard ice cream, milkshakes, banana splits, sundaes, cones and even brownies a la modes. Pictured are, from left: employee, Melissa Carson; co-owners Barry and Raylene Shaw, and employees Melanie Cleaves, Kathy Belanger and Mona Reiersen.
According to Raylene Shaw, who has owned the business with her husband, Barry, since 2005, the idea for the dairy bar came about within the last year.
“After being in business for three or four years, we realized how small the store was and how much added space was needed for us to grow,” she said. “The business has been doing quite well and has given us the opportunity to expand.
“With the expansion, we looked at what we could add in this neighborhood that would be of benefit to everybody. As we were looking around, we noticed that all the dairy bars are on the other side of town,” said Shaw. “This store is definitely a neighborhood store; our peak customers live within the radius of the store — plus with the hospital and doctors’ offices nearby — so we thought adding a dairy bar would be a good service to offer our customers.”
The expansion also allowed for three additional employees to be hired.
In August 2007, Ray’s sold a winning Megabucks ticket to a Presque Isle man valued at just over $9.8 million. For selling the winning ticket, the store received a significant amount of money that helped fund the expansion.
“That enabled us financially to be in a better position so that we could look at building on a lot quicker than we might have been able to without that good fortune,” said Shaw.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
A GRAND OPENING to celebrate the new dairy bar at Ray’s Corner Variety in Presque Isle was held July 23. The event included free hot dogs, chips, sodas and ice cream. Several children’s prizes were given away as was a family camping package. More than 200 people attended the celebration.
Located at 70 Academy St., the dairy bar provides hard ice cream, milkshakes, banana splits, sundaes, cones and even brownies a la modes.
“We’re serving Gifford’s Premium Ice Cream. It’s a well-known product in the state of Maine, and it’s from Maine, and I like to promote our own whether it’s local or within the state. We have 12 flavors ranging from Moose Tracks, Disappearing Bubblegum, Cotton Candy, Grape-Nuts, and we add something new each week,” said Shaw. “It’s kind of like the ‘flavor of the week.’ We also have low fat yogurts and sherbets.
“People can call ahead for ice cream/milkshake orders and pick them up at our drive thru window,” she said. “It’s very convenient. Nobody wants to stand and wait, so by calling ahead — if they have a 15-minute break — they can call ahead and then come and pick them up.”
Known for the deli which serves soups, sandwiches and fresh ground cheeseburgers, Shaw said she wanted to give customers something to “complement their deli order.”
“When you’re in business, you always need to look for something more to offer your customers to keep them coming in,” she said. “You need to grow, you need to expand, and you need to look at new possibilities. By adding the dairy bar, being a neighborhood store, the convenience of being able to call ahead, and complement it with our deli items — like a cheeseburger and a milkshake — I think it’s a win-win for this side of town. People can either sit and eat at our deli bar or we have picnic tables outside so they can enjoy the nice weather and have an ice cream cone.”
Close to Mantle Lake Park and the outdoor pool, Shaw said a lot of kids come in for something to eat before they go to swimming lessons.
“Then they get to treat themselves on the way back with an ice cream cone,” she said. “That was our main goal — to be able to offer more for our clientele.”
Looking ahead to winter, Shaw said milkshakes will be offered year-round.
“I’m not sure about the dairy bar itself; if we’re not running a full dairy bar we will be offering something else in its place,” she said. “The dairy bar will stay open year-round as long as there is a need for it.
“We’re learning what our customers are looking for,” said Shaw. “As they ask, we make note of it and try to get it in. A lot of people are asking about soft serve ice cream and it’s something that I will think about down the road.”
The dairy bar has been serving ice cream since the last week of June. A special grand opening, which included free hot dogs, chips, sodas and ice cream, was held July 23. Several children’s prizes were given away as was a family camping package — valued at $500 — which was won by Vicki Cote of Caribou. More than 200 people attended the celebration.
“The dairy bar is going very well,” said Shaw. “We recently did some advertising, but it had been mostly by word of mouth and people coming in and seeing it, and everyone is really pleased. We’ve gotten so many compliments on the new addition. Just having the extra space is appreciated.
“Our slogan is ‘Ray’s Corner Variety: Serving their family and yours’ and that’s what it’s all about,” she said. “This is definitely a neighborhood store … a little Mom and Pop store … and it’s a dying breed. What keeps us going is a very devoted and dedicated clientele. We thank them for their patronage and look forward to continue serving them.”
Ray’s Corner Variety is open from 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. The dairy bar is open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 1-8 p.m. Dairy bar window hours are 3-7:30 p.m. seven days a week.
For more information or to phone in an order, call 764-0713.
