As a fifth generation resident of Hague, it’s not surprising that Sally DeLarm Rypkema considered saving the Hague Market a civic priority.

Established in 1900, it’s said to be the oldest continuously operated general store in the Adirondacks, and for most of its history, it has served as an informal community center, a place where people meet as well as shop.

But Rypkema has ties to the Hague Market stronger than even her oldest neighbors’.  She worked there. When she was five years old.

“For the first six years of my life, my family lived next door, at the dairy, and the market’s owners, Bob and Ada Hoyt, who had no children of their own, seemed happy to have me around. They even gave me a job – selling penny candy to the other kids,” said Rykema.

When Art Seitz put the market up for sale several years ago, Rypkema and her husband Jim considered purchasing it, but the timing wasn’t right.

Jim continued to work with his family’s business in New Jersey and Sally opened Juniper Design and Goods, a home furnishings shop and interior design firm, which is also located on Hague’s Main Street.

The Hague Market

The decision by Doug and Sharon Zeyak to sell the market earlier this year presented them with a second chance to own the market, as well as an opportunity to aid the town.

“The town needs the market, in a big way,” said Rypkema. “It’s nice to be able to run to a local market. And this market was once the center of Hague. Everybody came in to chat about what was going on. We wanted to be certain that Hague would always have that.”

According to Jim Rypekema, the market will re-open within the next two months.

Since the couple purchased the market, “There’s been a lot of excitement, which is very encouraging” said Jim. “People are pleased to see that the building has been repainted.”

Much of his time has been spent renovating the market’s commercial space and upstairs apartment.

“Structurally, we’re not changing anything, and we’re keeping as many of the details as possible, such as the tin ceiling and the hardwood floors. We want a traditional country store,” said Jim.

While the store will stock staples, its line of offerings “will evolve, as we learn more about what people need and want,” said Jim.

“I want to offer more of what I would want as a shopper, such as organic foods and local cheeses,” said Sally.

When Sally Rypkema was growing up, the store was named the Hague Supermarket. She and Jim are giving some thought to calling their store the New Hague Market.

But they realize that it will probably always be known as the Hague Market. And that will be fine with them. After all, their only goal is to ensure that Hague will always have a market to call its own.