Albion Variety Store

Click Image for Larger Viewing	The Sign The sign at Albion Variety might be overlooked, but the store itself cannot as when one comes into view of the centrally located store, it is obvious that it is the hub of the community with many cars and trucks pulling up in front to purchase gas, staple items and other goods as people enter and exit constantly from six in the morning through nine at night.
Albion Variety Store Front Albion is a-buzz 365 days a year at the central local hub called the Albion Variety Store. The Winslow road, the Benton Road, the China road and Main Street, Albion all intersect at the corner of this historical convenient store. All the conveniences are available from 6:00 in the morning until 9:00 in the evening Monday through Saturday and from 7:00-8:00 on Sundays.	Click Image for Larger Viewing
Click Image for Larger Viewing	Gasoline and Diesel Pumps The steady flow of traffic pulling up to the pumps in front of Albion Variety Store may be an indicator as to one of the strongest reasons for pulling into this one-of-a-kind variety store. Many rural communities in Maine have to contend with higher gasoline prices compared to prices they might pay in the larger communities say for example in Waterville or Augusta. But, the opposite appears to be the case in Albion where you may find the price at the pump to be far more competitive than in the city.
Coffee or Cappuccino Check-in at the store, before heading to work or heading on a trip out of town as the coffee or cappaccino at Albion Variety will get you going and on your way as early as six in the morning. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has a small but tasty selection just as you enter the store.	Click Image for Larger Viewing
Click Image for Larger Viewing	Albion Variety Breakfast Nook Sit up at the counter and enjoy that freshly brewed cup of coffee and a the breakfast of your choice. Grab a newspaper to take in the daily news of the area or pull up next to a neighbor and listen to the locals come up with solutions for the worlds problems. Breakfast at Albion Variety is more than a morning meal.
Albion Variety Lunch Counter Hot lunch at Albion Variety offers a number of selections posted on the board. Looking for something not on the lunch menu? Ask the cook to fix you up your specialty and you may be surprised as to the freshness and quality of lunch at a local variety store which for years has pleased the local patrons.	Click Image for Larger Viewing
Click Image for Larger Viewing	Groceries, Snacks and Convenient Items The trip to Albion Variety to pick up a soda, chips, crackers, milk or other staple items may save on the gas money spent to head back and forth from Waterville's Hannaford, Walmart or Shaws Superstores. The store is filled with many products that people consume on a daily basis.
The Check-out Register Many items are available right at the check-out register at Albion Variety including cigarettes and lottery tickets. Uncle Henrys is available every Thursday and they even have a gumball machine.	Click Image for Larger Viewing
Click Image for Larger Viewing	Beer Albion Variety has a large assortment of beer favorites which the local area patrons prefer. Cold beer is available in bottles and cans. The bottle redemption business in the same building provides for a one-stop shop when it comes to beer.
Maine Licensed Liquor Store Maine is unique from other states as it allows variety and convenient stores to become a licensed Maine Alcohol Point of Sale Location. Unlike Massachusetts where alcohol is purchased at a package store, which does not sell gasoline and other convenient food items, this store is one of the few to carry this unique license with Maine.	Click Image for Larger Viewing
Click Image for Larger Viewing	Video Rentals Video rentals are available daily with convenient hours for picking up or dropping off that favorite movie. The selection is on the lighter side, but the availablity of movies in the local community are just one additional service to fill a need.
Security Albion Variety store has established a security system designed to not only protect the store but its patrons as well. Theft and vandalism to a store in any community can be catastrophic. So security systems are designed to minimize problems with any riff-raff that might be tempted by hooligans	Click Image for Larger Viewing
Click Image for Larger Viewing	Games Albion Maine Arcade? Well, maybe the arcade center in the variety store is not really an Arcade, but the store entertains visitors with a couple of games that people have found entertaining to pass some time while other family members are having lunch or shopping the store.
Parking, Sideview and Dumpster Additional parking is available on the side of the store and the entrance to the bottle and can redemption section is up the ramp to the side.	Click Image for Larger Viewing
Click Image for Larger Viewing	Kerosene Kerosene is not normally carried by variety stores but this additional product has resolved many emergencies when folks have run out of Kerosene used to heat their homes and garages. Price is competitive and can also be delivered from store directly to your door in the Albion area.
Delivery The pickup truck comes equipped with a tank and pump system allowing for deliveries on the road. Thousands of gallons are delivered monthly.	Click Image for Larger Viewing
Click Image for Larger Viewing	Sideview West of this convenience store is the intersection of the Winslow Road and the Benton Road. The Winslow road travels east-west and the Benton road is north-south. The Winslow road is a quick short cut to get to Unity and places downeast and along the coast for those traveling from the Winslow-Waterville area. For the folks traveling from Clinton and Benton, the Benton Road is a short cut to China Lake region and points towards the coastline.
Vending The store is open 6am to 9pm on most days, but for those who missed the working hours, customers can drop quarters in the soda machine in the front of the store producing revenues for the store owner even while the day is done.	Click Image for Larger Viewing
Click Image for Larger Viewing	Bottle and Can Redemption Maine was the first state in the union to pass a bill allowing for the return of bottles and cans for recycling. Albion Variety offers the consumer the opportunity to drop off their returnables and collect at the register. The redemption center is in a closed off area away from the lunch counter and grocery store area.
Chicken There ain't no KFC in Albion, and there ain't no Mickey D's either. Albion Variety offers the fast-food junky the pleasure of chicken-to-go. It has become a popular choice for both lunch and supper time.	Click Image for Larger Viewing
Click Image for Larger Viewing	More Beer Albion Variety has a wide selection of beer products. Kegs are available upon request.
Propane Summer-time in Albion is not complete without that evening barbecue. Bottled propane is not only the most popular product for barbecuing, but many use the product for gas-lighting and heating through the winter.	Click Image for Larger Viewing
Click Image for Larger Viewing	More Storefront As the photographer of the Albion Store, it was great pleasure to see a steady flow of traffic within less than fifteen minutes that it took to take interior and exterior photos. Cars and pickup truck come and go like bees collecting honey, but instead of bees, it's customers with their money.
Rental The building that houses Albion Variety also has two separate residential apartment units that may be used by the owner as a personal residence or rented to tenants. The additional rental income helps pay some bills.	Click Image for Larger Viewing
Click Image for Larger Viewing	Conclusion The Albion Variety store is available for sale. Supporting tax records filed are available to any qualified potential buyer. Gross revenues for the year 2006 exceeded $1.5 million dollars. 2007 was close to $2 millinon dollars. For more information, please call 207-380-7333 and ask for Miles. The Albion Variety store is available for sale through Prudential Northeast Properties with an office located at 20 Chaplin Street in Waterville, Maine 04901. The office phone number is 207-873-7400.