В Ашленде открылся новый продуктовый магазин Center Street, предлагающий специализированные товары и местные деликатесы

A new neighborhood market is now open in the longtime home of a venerable Ashland grocery brand. Center Street Market debuted in early August at 107 S. Railroad Ave., where it has taken over part of the downtown building that for decades was occupied by Cross Brothers Grocery. Center Street sells meat, seafood, produce, cheeses and wines, among other items, with many products sourced from businesses in Hanover and the wider region. Owner Hugh Lee said he was inspired to open the store to provide nearby residents the kind of specialty shopping experience he said otherwise requires a trip down to the Richmond area. “What I’m trying to do here is provide a service that Ashland does not have right now, especially for seafood and meat, because they’ve just got the big-box stores,” Lee said. “The town and the people that live here are very supportive of local businesses, so that’s why I always ask them what they are looking for so I can make sure I can get it and keep them coming back.” The store sells prepared meals made by Ash & Olive, the restaurant that operates next door. Center Street’s shelves include products from Virginia vendors such as Richmond-based pasta maker Bombolini and cracker company Firehook of Chantilly, among others. Center Street makes some in-house items, like hummus and pimento cheese and plans to expand those offerings. The store is also trying to set itself apart from similar concepts in the region with its wine selection, which features bottles from France, Spain and Italy. The market’s Railroad Avenue storefront came available earlier this year when butcher shop Ashland Meat Co. at Cross Brothers closed in the spring. Ashland Meat Co. was a successor to Cross Brothers Grocery, which originally opened in 1912 in a building on the site that was replaced by the current structure in the 1920s and ran there until 2018. Lee teed up the launch of Center Street with his acquisition of Ashland Meat’s equipment and lease. He declined to share how much he invested to start his store, which occupies 3,000 square feet. Lee has a three-decade background in supply chain management, with stints at C.H. Robinson and RXO. He started the store as his next professional act as a way to tap into his appreciation for food. “I am close to retirement, but I’m not there yet. I needed something to do,” he said. “I certainly did not want a restaurant but with this, I still get to talk to people about food.” Lee runs the store with help from wife Trina Lee, who is assisting with the company’s marketing efforts. She was formerly in events and communications with CarMax, and has launched her own communications consulting business. Center Street is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Ashland officials at 9 a.m. Sept. 9.