When they came to Aroostook County to look at farms for sale about five years ago, Sarah Leavitt and Bill Witham had a plan.
The owners of Freedom Farm in the central Maine town of Athens, a goat dairy farm that also raised poultry and pigs, were ready to till some new ground and immediately liked northern Maine.
But a series of coincidences intervened, and they sold their 200-acre farm for a different kind of opportunity. They’ve created Skyway Variety on Parson Street, just across from Presque Isle’s Skyway Industrial Park. The new business is the only convenience store on the west side of Main Street.
“I think this area has been calling us for a long time,” Leavitt said. “This property popped up and we saw a ton of potential with the gas pumps here, and we just decided to go for it.”
After their first trip to Aroostook County, Leavitt and Witham came back once or twice and researched real estate in the area, looking for the right opportunity for their family. Three of their children are grown, and three still live with them.
The variety store opened Oct. 1, and sits on the former site of two other convenience stores. One, owned by Maine Potato Growers, closed several years ago. Former Presque Isle Police Chief Matt Irwin and his wife, Nicole, opened The White Dog deli and market in 2019, but the business was destroyed by fire in 2020.
Shortly afterward, local entrepreneur Bruce Guerrette built Crown of Maine Motors, an auto sales and repair shop, which operated there until just recently.
Leavitt and Witham estimated they’ve invested about $1.5 million between the purchase and renovations. Witham, who is a general contractor and master electrician, did most of the work himself to convert the space into a store with an attached kitchen.
The couple picked a name and logo for the store without knowing they matched others that were popular in the area. A nearby business park, street and ATV trail already had “Skyway” in their names, and their logo of a stylized, curved blue roadway topped by a wide green sun is similar to the business park logo.
The store will specialize in convenience foods that are homemade and affordable, Leavitt said. Because they own the store, they have the freedom to be creative with their food, she said.
“We’re foodies. Good food has always been part of our value base,” she said. “We’re trying to use local and real food ingredients in a way that’s sustainable — things that are good and taste good.”
Some of their offerings that have already proved popular include white pizzas, made with a garlic-based white sauce rather than tomato sauce, with a blend of ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. It’s a vegetarian offering that people say they appreciate, she said.
They specialize in paninis, such as turkey with bacon and avocado or chipotle chicken, and offer french fries and potato wedges, breakfast items, baked goods and coffee. The store also features local Amish honey, Maine-made goods, Paul Cyr artwork, and a variety of local and hard-to-find beers.
Anyone passing by the store has undoubtedly noticed another feature: a 1924 Model T outside. Witham actually traded a dump truck to a friend for it and keeps it on the property as a conversation piece, he said. And, in keeping with that, they’re planning to hold some “old car nights” for collectors to show off their rides.
The couple loves kids and dogs — they have four dogs — and like the fact that they’re across from the city’s dog park and the Peace Park playground, Leavitt said. They hope to hold a number of special events for families, including one with a Santa theme.
Skyway Variety will host its grand opening celebration on Friday, Nov. 7, with specials and giveaways.
The community support so far has been incredible, store manager Joe Bell said.
“People say it’s great to have something on this side of town, and nice to have a family-run business,” Bell said.
Despite the challenges of balancing work and family life, Leavitt believes the store was the right move at the right time.
“Everything works out how it’s supposed to,” she said.
Skyway Variety is open from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
