By Barbara Scott
Staff Writers
It was in May 1949 when Chester and Lena Buzzell, along with Mr. Buzzell’s sister, Maxine, opened Buzzell’s Store at Madawaska Lake. This business was established at the site, which in later years would become known, by locals residents and visitors from all over, as Stan’s which provided the 10-cent cup of coffee until only a few years ago, when owner Stan Thomas retired and the building was bought and razed.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Three generations of the Buzzell family in Caribou are celebrating the relocation of the family store which was established in 1949 by Chester and Lena Buzzell at Madawaska Lake. This weekend marks the grand re-opening of the clothing store at 98 Sweden Street under the ownership of Carl Anderson, the son of Betty Buzzell Anderson and Shawn Anderson. Family members pictured include, Dorothy Buzzell, seated; and in back from left, her husband, Ronald Buzzell, the son of business founder Chester Buzzell; Carl Anderson, current owner (grandson) and his mother Betty Buzzell Anderson.
Buzzells’s offered a variety of items, and in 1955, when Chester and Lena’s son Ronald, who was no stranger to working at the family business, returned from his military service and he built a log cabin across the street from the store, which is still there. Over the years at the Madawaska Lake location the Buzzells added to their business two additions to accommodate their stock which evolved from general items into groceries, dry goods, men’s quality clothing and eventually grew to include the same fine quality of women’s clothing lines.
In 1964 Ronald and Dorothy Buzzell moved to Caribou and built a new building for their store on North Main St. (current location of County Electric) where it remained for the next 11 years.
Moving the family-owned business closer to the downtown business area, Buzzell’s relocated in the Johnston Jeweler’s site, directly across from the post office and would be there for three years.
During Caribou’s urban renewal phase, Buzzell’s Clothing Store moved again farther up on Sweden Street where it remained, until only recently, for nearly 40 years.
Now, Carl Anderson, the son of Betty Buzzell and Shawn Anderson, who has owned the well-established business for the past year and a half, recently made the decision to relocate the store once again, this time to a free-standing building at 98 Sweden Street, directly across from the Methodist Church, the site which formerly housed the former Caribou Dry-Cleaners.
The fourth generation to operate the clothing store, Anderson stated he had been looking for a new location since the first of the year and decided in March to move to the new Sweden Street spot. “I have gained a lot of valuable experience working in the store over the past seven years,” he said.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Buzzell’s Clothing Store recently re-opened at its new location on 98 Sweden Street in Caribou. Celebration events will be held this weekend, Oct. 8 and 9. From left are Carl’s dad, Shawn Anderson; Lisa Cantafio, president of the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Carl Anderson, owner, great-grandson of Chester and Lena Buzzell, business founders; Dorothy Buzzell, Betty Buzzell and Ronald Buzzell. In back are Jenny Coon, chamber director; Steven Buck, Caribou city manager and Peggy Bugbee, chamber board member.
The young proprietor also has the valuable advice which was passed down from Chester Buzzell to his son Ronald who in turn shared it with his grandson (Carl) — “Be nice to people and they will respond.” “I plan to keep with the same ideas and philosophies, I will continue to carry the same quality brands that have proven successful, including Irish Setter and Redwing footwear, Pendleton and Woolrich clothing lines and women’s outerwear. The items will be made in the U.S.A. as much as possible,” Anderson stated.
On Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7 and 8 a Grand Re-opening event is planned at the shop’s new location.
Anderson invites everyone to stop in to shop or just say hello. There will be special pricing on inventory throughout the store during this time as well as special drawings for shoppers.
Business hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m.to 2 p.m. Telephone: 493-4484.
