A New Chapter for Bethel’s Independently Owned Grocery Store

by Meryl Kelly

For nearly a half century, Carl Glidden and his family have been the proud owners of the Bethel Foodliner on Main Street. As their time at the helm of this treasured community grocery store comes to a close their commitment to the Bethel community has taken its final form in the thoughtful selection of the store’s next owners. Carl and his daughter, Colleen Mccabe — who served as the store’s co-manager along with Debbie Swan, know the vital role this store holds for Bethel and the surrounding towns and they sought to pass the torch to a new family that could maintain the small town values and safeguard the accessibility they held dear during their 44 year tenure. As luck would have it the Gliddens found a capable match in serial entrepreneur Joe Christopher. Together with his three co-owners — partner Kim

Christopher, longtime business collaborator Ryan Rother and nephew Ben Christopher — he will be rebranding Gliddens into a second location of their popular Kingfield grocery store — Mainely Provisions.

Christopher, a self-made man, is a founding partner and president of Upward Management Group, which oversees an impressive stable of thriving businesses throughout Maine’s tourism/hospitality industry — purchasing properties and bestowing ownership stakes for key members of management at every turn. Rother’s retail expertise, developed as a corporate manager for the Safeway grocery store chain, made him a natural partner for Upward’s shift in focus from adventure tourism (rafting specifically) to the yearround community-oriented opportunities presented by the grocery business. In addition to supporting Upward’s reopening of the Shipyard Brew Haus at Sunday River’s White Cap lodge, Rother has taken on the role of Head of Grocer and Convenience Businesses for both Mainely Provisions locations.

Adding to Glidden’s current staff, Joe’s nephew Ben will be onboarding as the store’s managing partner, working with Debbie to oversee day-to-day operations. Ben started his career in the corporate offices at Hannaford, which will promote an easy transition from the current business model as Mainely Provisions will continue with its Hannaford affiliation. In addition to offering affordable grocery essentials the new owners are aiming to enhance product quality — offering more ethnic, organic and diet-minded options, and rethinking the produce section to incorporate more locally grown products. The store will also operate as an agency liquor store with a wide selection of hand-selected wine, liquor and Maine brewed craft beer,

“A rising tide lifts all boats” is an aphorism Joe lives by when considering business decisions and though the success he has earned might trigger a corporate-tinged unease, at heart his company is a family run business and his staff is a welcome addition to that family. Joe is already entrenched within the Bethel area and will continue to step up for his employees and our community whenever possible. As a proud capitalist he understands that his businesses can’t thrive without good people and that “you can’t have the people you need, if you can’t solve the problems they have.”

With this in mind he has started developing various properties throughout town to address the dire need for workforce housing. In their storefront Mainly Provisions is committed to maintaining a balance with the products they supply, keeping prices affordable while also offering a variety and quality of items that will appeal to locals and guests alike.

As we bid farewell to the Glidden family, we find ourselves at the end of an era but also on the brink of an exciting new chapter for our independently owned grocery store. While change in general may bring a mix of emotions, we can rest assured that we will be able to relish the small town atmosphere fostered by the dedicated staff of the former Foodliner. Among many others we will still have Lorraine at the register, Skylar stocking up produce and Barry with his friendly greetings — reminding us that growth and change do not have to disrupt the things we value most. To the Gliddens we express our heartfelt gratitude for their unwavering dedication, hard work and support of our community over the years. And to the Christophers, Welcome! Our community looks forward to seeing the growth and innovation a fresh perspective can bring.