North Country This Week

WEST STOCKHOLM — A new mini mart is open for business and patrons will have a abundance of options, ranging from subs and pizza to daily specials available.

Run by the husband and wife team Tim and Kristie Phippen, TnK’s Mini Mart is a one stop shop established by locals for locals at the blinking traffic light at the corner of NYS Hwy. 11 and Country Route 57.

“We live nearby and knew the community needed a store. So more than anything, we’re doing this to help our community and to provide a service that we felt was needed,” Kristie said.

For Tim, it was also a way to get off the road and spend more time with family by working locally.

The Phippens took ownership of the store last April and began renovating in their spare time beginning in May.

“We tore it all right down to the studs and fully remodeled the store,” they said.

The family run store officially opened at the end of December with a soft launch but business has continued to pick up as more services are offered.

“We have gas available, including regular and high octane, diesel and clear kerosene. We’re working on our beer license right now, we have our tobacco license already. We’re also working on our lottery license at the moment,” Tim said.

For those passing through this summer, basic fishing supplies will also be available. The Phippens say they hope to have their bait license for next winter, offering ice fishermen another place to purchase live bait.

Other offerings include a deli stocked with Boar’s Head meat, coffee ready to go each day, burgers and chicken tenders ready to eat, pizza by the slice and a wide range of food offerings.

“We have a great cheese steak we make with real prime rib, it’s very high quality meat,” Kristie said.

The pizza offered has come from years of experimentation at home, according to Tim.

“We make our own dough from our own recipe that came about from years of playing with the recipe and testing it. We have a bunch of different options, including a breakfast pizza sometimes. We have bone-in and boneless wings too,” Tim said.

Subs are made with fresh buns delivered from a bakery in New Jersey, which also provides quality baked goods, pastries, cupcakes and other goods.

“We have a lot of specials and treats, there’s always something new like our New England clam chowder, pulled pork sandwiches, homemade soups, mac and cheese. There’s always something new,” Tim said.

For those who want to sit down and relax while eating dinner, dine-in options are available as well for roughly a dozen patrons. Take out is predominantly the most popular option, according to Tim.

“We don’t have delivery yet but hope to sometime in the near future,” he said.

Locals who need basic home supplies can find a wide range of products throughout the store, with more being added weekly.

“We have canned goods, cleaning products, all of the basics you might need. We wanted to be a local option so folks didn’t have to drive all the way to Walmart or Price Chopper,” Kristie said.

Local products are available, including maple syrup, handmade soap, hand balm, honey and Richards Vermont BBQ sauce.

“We’re adding more weekly, so check back,” Tim said.

TnK’s, located at 148B, County Route 57 in Potsdam, is open seven days per week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

To order ahead, call (315) 261-4900.

“We hope to see everyone stop in and check out our offerings. We’re just really excited to finally open up and to offer something new to the community,” Tim said.