Before it abruptly closed in March of 2011, the store certainly appeared to be a popular place, with customers often finding it hard to get a parking spot around noontime when many workers from the North Springfield Industrial Park would breeze on over during their lunch break to purchase a hot lunch or tasty fresh made sandwich.
The owners then, Brian Szad and Lois Patrie, bought the store in 2001. The building had been a food store off and on for more than 100 years. A small side section of the building also housed the North Springfield Post Office for many years and then was Brando's Pizza for a few years.
Way back before most people alive today can remember, the store front sign had the name Chapman on it. In the 1950s, it was Polidor's. In the early 60s, the store was purchased by Jim and Jeanne Matthews who renamed it "Matthews Superette". Located next to North School and offering a wide selection of penny candies made it a popular after school stop for grade school children. The nice cashier lady at that time, Marjorie Chapman, was a beloved figure to young and old alike, the daughter of a previous owner.
The Matthews sold the store in 1967 and it became Kehoe's Store for awhile. Then Morse's Market, which it is about to become again. Todd Morse, son of former owner Dave Morse, has been working on the building for more than a year now getting it in shape to reopen soon what many North Springfield residents just call "the red store".
Brian Szad behind the checkout counter at Main Street Market when he was co-owner of the store
A really long time ago, a teenager by the name of Ernest "Puggy" Lamphere got his first job working here. (The wood frame building at that time had asphalt siding designed to look like brick.)
2011 Article: North Springfield Market abruptly closed
When will it open? We need this!
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