Orland Variety, a variety store in the town’s busy community center, closed abruptly Sunday just short of a year after opening.
The Littlefield family opened the store in mid-May 2025, offering pizza, calzones, sandwiches, nachos, baked goods, snacks and drinks with free local delivery.
Orland Variety is closed effective May 3, according to a post on the business’ Facebook page that day, which did not give a reason for the store closing.
“This has been an incredible journey, and we are so proud to have been your local spot in the Orland Community Center,” the post said. “While we are moving on to a new chapter, we couldn’t leave without sharing our deepest gratitude with the community that made it all possible.”
The community center is housed in the town’s former elementary school building, which was repurposed and started renting spaces to businesses after closing in 2011 due to declining enrollment. It hosts a range of operations including professional offices, a coffee shop, a hair salon and a health practice, along with community programs.
Orland Variety also filled a hole in the community after the closure of Snowmans Grocery in town on Route 46 several months before, Casey Littlefield said last year, and people missed having a hometown spot to visit, especially when traffic through Bucksport increased in the summer.
Before opening the Orland store, Littlefield and her family operated Cutterman’s Variety in Stockton Springs. Cutterman’s closed last spring when they couldn’t reach a lease or purchase agreement with its owners, she said last year. The building in Stockton is now home to Vicki’s Kitchen, a market and takeout.
