Pioneer Times photo/Gloria Austin
BACK TOGETHER — Working together again, 32 years later, at Peg’s Place in Linneus are, from left, Val Stewart, Peggy Longstaff and Cathy Bither. The three had worked at Bither’s Country Inn.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
LINNEUS — It has been 32 years since they had all worked together and a father-daughter secret brought them all back together.
“I had talked to Dad about buying the store,” said Peggy Longstaff, owner of Peg’s Place in Linneus, formerly known as the Linneus Convenience Store. “He did not say a word to anyone.”
Longstaff bought the store in November 2013.
Looking at a wall with her father’s picture, Ken Bither, and his special laminated feature that appeared in the Houlton Pioneer Times nearby, Longstaff admitted she often went to her father for advice.
“I went to him and asked him what he thought,” said Longstaff. “He said I could do it. He would have helped. He could have been the entertainment.”
Bither, 84, who was struggling with illness, died Jan. 14 and never had the chance to tell a few of his tales to customers.
Despite the fact Longstaff would have loved to have her father milling around the store, she has good childhood memories of the store, which was owned then by Ellery Barnes.
“When we were kids, we came here for the penny candy,” she said. “I wanted to buy the store because I thought it would be fun.”
Adding to the light-hearted atmosphere are the additions of Cathy Bither and Val Stewart to help Longstaff with the business venture, as well Longstaff’s husband, Rod.
“Thirty-two years ago, we all worked together,” said Stewart. “Now, we are back working together.”
The trio worked at Bither’s Country Inn — owned by Ken and Cathy Bither for six years — in Linneus, formerly the Tea Room and now Grammy’s Country Inn.
“Cathy was cooking, Vallie and I were waitressing. Now they are cooking and I am bossing them,” said Longstaff with a smile.
Stewart, who worked at Shop ‘n Save in the deli for 16 years, now works two or three hours a day at the Peg’s Place.
“I love it,” she said. “I love seeing people.”
Bither smiles and said she got involved for something to do. But, Longstaff quickly added with a smile, “I think she thought I needed the help.”
Bither’s restaurant knowledge began at Elm Tree before she and her husband bought their eatery in Linneus. From there, Bither went on to teach at Region II Food Preparation Services. She is on her 30th year as instructor of the program.
Pioneer Times photo/Gloria Austin
GATHERING SPOT — Peg’s Place in Linneus is quickly becoming a gathering place for friends and community members.
Peg’s Place carries an array of hot meals to cold sandwiches and a menu from breakfast to supper items. The menu offers coffee and beverages, breakfast sandwiches, bagels, homemade muffins, subs — hot or cold — french fries, onion rings, appetizers such as broccoli bites, jalapeno poppers and deep fried mushrooms and of course, pizza.
The girls usually have some type of crock pot or home-cooked casserole to go along with their regular menu during the lunch hour.
Convenience stores do not offer the traditional County meal, but Peg’s Place does, as customers can get homemade beans, salads, rolls and bread on the weekends.
“We have to work in shifts,” said Longstaff, whose store is open Monday through Thursday, 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 4 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Longstaff opens and prepares breakfast, while Bither is right behind her with home-baked goods such as cinnamon rolls, coffee/apple squares, whoopie pies, cookies, breads and rolls; and then Stewart comes in to help prepare the more hearty meals.
As a courtesy to customers, Longstaff will prepare frozen meals and take-out orders.
“We can prepare a meal — as an example a 9×13-inch lasagna — for someone who calls ahead,” said Bither. “They can pick it up, take it home and cook it just like it is their own creation.”
To reach Peg’s Place call 532-9394.
Peg’s Place also offers a place for gathering, as Longstaff has one booth, with several chairs in one area of the store.
“It is usually men in here,” said Longstaff, smiling.
Peg’s Place also stocks plenty of ice, as they can make 900 pounds in their ice-maker, along with automotive oil, batteries and customers can fill up their gas tanks with Sunoco, which is available during and after store hours, as well as purchase other amenities stocked in a small store, including live bait in the winter.
Longstaff has gotten to know her regular customers well, as the store is a steady trail of in-and-out patrons, including even some from Houlton.
Pioneer Times photo/Gloria Austin
FULL SERVICE — Peggy and Rod Longstaff and their sidekick “Gunner” stand in front of Sunoco gas pumps which are available for use during and after business hours.
Longstaff already has some long-range plans like moving the kitchen to the front of the building since it is located toward the back now. Beside the kitchen will be the cash register and on the left side will be food items and beverages, leaving the right side as the gathering spot.
“I am trying to make it more convenient,” she said. “Once we get our new kitchen in, we will also be enlarging the food department.”
Thinking about Peg’s Place, Bither said it really filled a need in the community.
“Every town needs a little store,” she said.
