История легендарного магазина Lake Shore Market в Шрусбери, основанного Джоуем ЛеБланком в 1927 году

SHREWSBURY – Joseph “Joe White” LeBlanc was working in the trades in 1927. His job required frequent travel, which, wanting to stay close to his mother and wife, he did not enjoy. At age 27, he owned a piece of property next to his family’s home on South Quinsigamond Avenue, still a dirt road at the time. He built a brick structure and turned it into a market: Lake Shore Market. The name was originally used by a market on the Boston-Worcester Turnpike, just over the Worcester-Shrewsbury bridge over Lake Quinsigamond. That store, which was owned by the Dufresne family, had been out of business, so Joe asked if he could use the name for his new market. His market – which opened during the week of Thanksgiving in 1927 – quickly became known as “Joe White’s.” It was a neighborhood staple, despite there being other “cornerstore” establishments in the immediate area. The store featured a variety of merchandise, but was known for its meats and fish. Joe was the butcher for the store, even making his own sausage. Local residents still have fond memories of the store. Sandy Perna, for instance, recalls the delicious chocolate cream pies, made every week. Gary Dombrowski, who grew up close to the store and knew Joe’s nephew, remembers going on fishing trips to the ocean with Joe and his nephew; Joe would catch the fish that were sold every Friday. Other residents recall riding their bikes to the store to stock up on a bag of penny candy. Joe himself had other interests besides the store: During a 1990 interview, he said he had what was called “Joe White’s Orchestra” for many years. The group featured a fiddle, saxophone, and drums that would provide music for local events. Joe White’s market became a family affair – his wife worked in the store, and later, his son Raymond and his wife took the business over, along with their daughters. Joe continued to work in the store; he was still hard at work there well into his 90s. Joseph “Joe White” LeBlanc passed away in May of 1999. The business closed a few years later. The building was then sold and turned into Francesca’s Deli. A few years later, it became Napoli Italian Deli & Catering, a favorite spot in town, known for its excellent sandwiches.