Located at 9787 County 513 T Rd. where 513 meets Garth Point Lane, this convenience store will open again with a new owner on July 1. (Photo courtesy of Katie Cousineau)

GARTH — Garth Bluff Grocery, a small retail shop located near the northern end of County 513 T Road, has for decades been an easy stop for people living on and visiting the Stonington Peninsula. The place has been closed for a little over a year, but now, a new owner is prepared to reopen the store. The first day of business will be Wednesday, July 1.

Katie Cousineau, who grew up in Riverland and worked at Five Corner Market in Danforth until this week, purchased Garth Bluff Grocery in April and is excited for the new venture.

“I’m really excited to get to know the community and be able to make a positive impact,” Cousineau said on Friday. “It’s kind of been like my dream, just to be able to make a positive impact somewhere in a community, no matter how big or small.”

Garth Bluff Grocery first opened in 1972 and has had a handful of owners over the last 54 years. The previous sale had been to the Boldas, who ran it from 2019 until 2024. The same people also operated Papa Jim’s Pizza, which had occupied 9911 U.S. Highway 2 (at the intersection with 513 T Road) for a few years. That building has since been converted to Peninsula Point Lodge, a “sister” motel to Hillcrest Inn, located barely half a mile up U.S. 2.

Since buying Garth Bluff Grocery a couple months ago, Cousineau said that a lot of “blood, sweat and tears” has gone into getting it ready.

“Honestly, not a lot of maintenance had to be done. It was just a lot of love had to be put into it, really,” she said, noting that the place has been cleaned, painted, had floors redone and coolers repaired. “I was up for the challenge.”

Having worked at the market in Danforth for seven years and worked in retail and customer service for much of her life, Cousineau feels ready and enthused about this next chapter.

Under her ownership, Garth Bluff Grocery will supply groceries, lotto tickets, the Daily Press and more. They’ll sell ice and do propane tank exchange. It’ll take probably about a month before the liquor license is finalized, Cousineau estimates.

Once the store is open and running, she’ll be hiring staff, re-introducing ice cream and looking at other plans.

“This winter, we plan to add on … a live bait shop for ice fishing,” Cousineau said.

For hunting season in autumn, the store will definitely carry bait for deer, she said.

Come Wednesday, Garth Bluff Grocery will be open for business from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Sunday hours will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.