Meet Mr. and Mrs. Shopkeep

SCHROON LAKE | Ryan Ragland has fond memories of the Towne Store. As a child, he and his family would venture to the Adirondacks from Clifton Park and vacation at Eagle Lake, a stone's throw from Schroon Lake. Ragland recalls trips into the town, patronizing the Towne Store and its over 7,000 square feet of merchandise. The majority of Ragland's adolescent summers were spent up here, in the Adirondacks, and Schroon Lake, making a lasting imprint on his mind. And, as so often happens, life shuffled the deck and now Ragland, along with his wife Amanda, find themselves to be the proud new owners of the 1881 establishment. "We happened on the opportunity by accident. We had friends staying at the house who mentioned the Towne Store was for sale," revealed Ragland, adding that he and Amanda had been looking for a reason to set roots down in the area for quite some time. "Our retirement plan was always to co-exist in the same space- we enjoy spending time together. Historically, a business like this is sold only once every 25 or 30 years, and we didn't want to miss the opportunity." The brunette pair, both burnt out on their respective careers and desiring very much to be part of a smaller community, the Raglands didn't have to discuss too long amongst themselves before they decided to switch gears and accelerate their plans. They made an offer in October of 2022 and ultimately closed on the Towne Store earlier this spring. The professional young couple has relocated to the area full time, their second home in Paradox now their primary residence, and Ryan, who spent the past 15 years as a middle school science teacher, will be hanging up his hat at the end of this school year and putting on his new shop keeper cap, devoting his livelihood fully to operating the Towne Store. Amanda, a 2010 graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology who majored in Fashion Merchandising Management with a specialization in Buying and Planning, would appear to be sliding into a perfect occupational fit after spending 13 years as a buyer for Anthropolgie. The two are well-aware of the legacy the Towne Store has within the Schroon community and the sentimental place it holds in people's hearts, theirs included. That's why they intend to keep the retail shop as true to its roots as possible with no alteration to the name. In fact, the only major changes the Raglands will be making will be in terms of inventory, improving upon the toy section and growing their outfitter offerings. "I remember coming into the store as a kid and the store having a really robust toy section," recalled Ryan, who is making the children's entertainment section his primary focus. "I felt like that was something that was lacking when you are here on vacation- it is important kids have a place to come with a variety of things." Ragland's toy section will feature environmentally minded items with what he calls a nice combination of educational toys geared towards STEM activities and other pertinent categories, aiming to offer toys that are not only engaging but enriching to the mind. Amanda, well-versed in apparel and accessories thanks to her Anthropologie experience, will be making her primary focus the outfitter expansion, seeing a need in the community to offer nature lovers and visitors a place to find everything they will need to take advantage of the Adirondacks and the numerous bodies of water within a small radius of Schroon. "We want to have a location where people can come to outfit themselves for being in the outdoor environment," Mrs. Ragland noted, citing hiking apparel and walking sticks as a few items she sees a need to bring in. "Our goal for the upcoming years is to continue to grow that outdoor space and be a place for the nature lovers. The water section was also a smaller presence in the store previously- our water section for this year is exciting, it feels fresh and expansive." The Raglands will continue to carry souvenir apparel, gifts, and home décor, which the Towne Store is known for. Over time, Ryan will be making improvements and necessary changes to the historic building so that it will work better for patrons and the community. "The Towne Store has always been here and provided a service to the community," reflected Ryan. "We never considered or contemplating changing it." The Schroon Lake Towne Store is open on weekends from now until Memorial Day, Friday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. After Memorial Day, their hours will be expanded for the season. "We have had such an amazing outpouring of support," Amanda said. "People have such fond memories of the store. Schroon is isolated from larger retailers and being able to find products is needed within the community as well as the Towne Store being anchored to people's memories. We want to keep the essence of what the Towne Store has always been for people but just enhance it and improve the offerings. We are very excited about embracing being part of this community." The Towne Store is located at 1089 U.S. Rte. 9 in Schroon Lake. Follow their Facebook page for updates, announcements, new products, and specials.

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