by Gillian Lalime

China’s newest specialty store & deli, China Lake Provisions, is hosting its official grand opening this weekend. Located in China Village near the Post Office, the store is having a ribbon cutting ceremony this Friday, February 14th at 3:30pm. The celebration coincides with the China Lake Fishing Derby and all community members are invited to join the festivities and explore the new store’s offerings! They plan to be open for business at 7:30am on Derby Day.

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Like many small town businesses, China Lake Provisions began as a dream rooted in childhood memories. Michael Brown is a third-generation farmer at Meadowbrook Farm who’d always envisioned an off-farm outlet to expand sales. When the old China General Store came up for purchase, Brown saw an opportunity to restore it as a local hub for quality goods and community connection.

Back when Brown was a kid, the China General Store was a local hub. One could stop in for gas and food, and you’d inevitably run into a neighbor or friend and have a chance to catch up on local happenings. It’s these community gathering spots – sometimes referred to as Third Spaces – whose presence make a town a home; that brings quality of life to a place.

James Malinky is Mike’s business partner, longtime family friend, and has worked for the family farm for years. His is the friendly face most likely to greet you walking into China Lake Provisions. Malinky notes that the store’s concept evolved over time, informing me that what folks experience when they step through the doors today is a fourth or fifth edition of the original vision. For the renovation, timbers were harvested from Meadowbrook Farm’s woods, mere miles from the storefront. Those timbers can be easily seen at the counter, coffee bar, and other areas throughout the building.

“When we were in the initial planning stages, it was very clear we were going to have a deli kitchen and coolers with meat from the farm,” says Malinky. “With the way the store is set up, the kitchen is in the back. There was all of this empty floor space and we thought…so what do we do with that?”

Inside you’ll find rows of shelving that feature a wide variety of Maine & New England-made products from over 50 vendors. The store’s mission is clear: to support local farmers and makers while promoting sustainable farming and fostering community bonds.

Co-manager Carissa Stein, demonstrates how she closely reviews each product for ingredient quality. “We’re working here every day and eating the food from here,” she says. Whether it comes off of the shelves or out of the cafe oven, “The post-digestion is just as important as the taste, and a measure of the quality of ingredients used.” This philosophy extends beyond the shelves to the deli, where they prioritize whole ingredients, avoiding pre-shredded cheeses that contain anti-caking agents.

The menu at China Lake Provisions is built around local ingredients. Meadowbrook Farm beef is featured prominently in pizzas and sandwiches, while other meats are sourced locally, either from Joseph’s Meat Market or North Country Bacon.

Malinky smiles when I ask him about the pizza. “Renovating the store we had to bring some structural changes through the Town Planning Board. It was after these meetings about 95% of people would come up to us and ask, ’So, are you guys gonna have pizza?’.”

A collaborative approach to decision making is at the core of this business. Major decisions are decided upon by all co-managers: MIke, Jim, Carissa, and the Kitchen Manager, Olivia. Input from the store’s team members and customers is crucial! In Malinky’s eyes it’s been this sort of community input that shapes the store. “We want feedback from you guys. We are always looking for community input and want to know what you want!”

Looking ahead, China Lake Provisions plans to expand its bakery offerings with fresh bagels and other baked goods, while continuing to emphasize locally and ethically sourced staple food items such as: dairy, eggs, grains, spices, and of course meat. Patrons have multiple company offerings of local maple syrup, honey, ice cream, bread, and beverages. New and seasonal products will continue to make appearances on the shelves and in the coolers at China Lake Provisions. Leading up to their Grand Opening, the store has distributed coupons to nearby schools and businesses and is thrilled to help sponsor this weekend’s fishing derby.

Stop in for hot coffee, delicious pizza, a sandwich, or to see their wide array of local and seasonal products. Check out their Menu and more at : https://chinalakeprovisions.com/.

FMI contact: Info@chinalakeprovisions.com

NOTE: This article has been updated from it’s original print version.