Carol's Corner Store
I originally tried to get a loan through my bank and then my bank recommended The Progress Fund. It was more flexible.
People
The log cabin-style store near the entrance to Linn Run State Park always sold drinks and sandwiches for the hikers, cyclists and anglers. Could it offer more? When a for-sale sign went up and Jeremy Smith stopped in to talk with the owner, he flashed back to his New England roots–specifically, his mother’s home. He envisioned a store with a mom’s house vibe. “You can come in and get something good, and on a cold day you can get something hot,” Jeremy says. “It’s that feeling of community that she created in her house.”
Progress
Jeremy decided to buy the store. His bank thought The Progress Fund would be a perfect fit for his needs based on the location and type of business. After the bank’s referral, The Progress Fund loan $135,900 for the purchase.
Impact
Think of that feeling in your belly after a day at a state park. Now imagine the smell of fish cake, hot soup or meat in a smoker. Carol’s Corner Store — named after Jeremy’s mom — brings those aromas and that feeling to a spot frequented by park users, plus locals and commuters using nearby State Route 381. Jeremy continues the store’s practice of featuring locally sourced meats, breads, milk, cheeses, honey, eggs, syrup and more — but not everything will bear the scent of Western Pennsylvania. “My chowder,” Jeremy boasts, “can’t be beat.”
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