Country Doctor celebrates first anniversary at new location

When one door closes, another opens ... with windows and the smell of fresh bread.

One year ago, Lewiston's The Country Doctor moved to 549 Center St. - the heart of the village's business district. Vendors made the move, in part, because of the uncertainty of a potential development engulfing their former site. Just as importantly, they realized business would boom at this end of Center Street.

"Absolutely," antique and gift co-op manager Lynn Stephenson said. "It was amazing. The Harvest Festival was very good. The Jazz Festival was amazing, because it was right out front. It was very, very, very busy. It's great to be right here and be right next to DiCamillo's and Canterbury (Place). We get a lot more walking people."

"We lost the outside (the previous site had a yard), but we gained the front windows," Stephenson said. "Last year, during the Christmas decoration contest from the business association, we won, which was pretty cool."

"We did the Tour of Kitchens. We did a tablescape for Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center for the fundraiser for Hospice. That was nice," she added. "We're looking forward to the Tour of Homes for Christmas. We're doing a lovely home on Mountain View.

"I think everyone has done very well."

"The business has done well," vendor Toddy St. Laurent said.

Merchants have received a positive response to the move.

"Everybody that comes in tells me how much they love it, and that they think it's nice and bright," Stephenson said. "They miss the old basement and the garage - being able to dig through things - but this is very lovely. ... They like it."

Country Doctor invites readers to visit during its one-year anniversary commemoration.

"Nov. 1 to Nov. 9, we're celebrating our anniversary," Stephenson said. "We're going to decorate the window."

"We have a free gift for everybody that makes a purchase," she added. "We're going to be marking down a lot in the store."

"Everybody is doing some kind of percentage sale," St. Laurent said.

"On both weekends, we're going to have refreshments," Stephenson said.

Country Doctor is open from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. daily.

Pictured, from left, are Toddy St. Laurent and Lynn Stephenson at The Country Doctor Antiques & Gifts.