Bedlam Corners general store rises from the ashes

By Jaime Thomas4-1 016

After months of work through the winter, Virginia Curran is nearly ready to open the newly renovated Bedlam Corners general store in West Hebron.

Curran purchased the store, which was severely damaged in a fire more than two years ago, in August and has been rebuilding it ever since. She had repainted the exterior and interior and refinished the hardwood floors, walls, heating system and ceiling, but something was still missing.

When Sokol’s Market in Queensbury announced its closure and advertised its equipment in a local newspaper, Curran saw her chance. From the former grocer, she stocked up on shelving, deli and meat coolers, bread racks, tables, chairs and other displays and props.

“They are such nice people; Matt, Mike and Timmy Sokol have helped tremendously,” Curran said of the market’s owners. She said they spent Sunday bringing equipment over to Hebron with their own pick-up trucks and helped her unload it all.

She was glad to be able to find these items used.

“People told me how expensive it is to buy that brand new. I don’t know what I was going to do,” she said.

On Monday, Curran’s husband James, Former Hebron Justice Marvin Day and several movers from Moving Made Easy moved the majority of the heavy equipment from Sokol’s to the general store.

She will also use one older cooler that survived the fire and is in working condition.

In the store, Curran will offer hot coffee and breakfast sandwiches, beer, gift items, sandwiches and more. There will be a few tables inside, as well as one or two picnic tables outside.

“It will be nice to have our local store open again,” Hebron Supervisor Brian Campbell said on the town’s website.

She will open the store Memorial Day weekend, and will hold daily hours of roughly 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., closing earlier on Sundays.4-1 003