LISBON

When Christine Amaya found out earlier this year that the building that housed Miller’s Variety for the 10 years she ran it was going to be sold and demolished, she started looking for another space.

Her landlord informed her that Irvings would be buying and knocking down the building at 689 Lisbon Road — with plans underway to put in a Rusty Lantern Market convenience store and gas station on the site.

In searching for a new home for her business, Amaya knew she wanted to be in Lisbon where she’d worked at various businesses over the years and made a name for herself. She’s been in retail for 35 years.

“I’ve known a lot of locals and I know they’re going to stick with me,” said Amaya, formerly of Lisbon but now living in Sabattus.

It wasn’t long before she was given a number to call and is now in a space four times the size of her old store — and for less rent. Located at 10 Memorial St., a hop off the main drag, she is in a former restaurant space in a building that once housed a dance hall, roller skating rink and other businesses over the years.

Renamed Chris’ House, the move five miles down Route 196 ended up being a blessing in disguise, Amaya said. The old space was so small there was no place to put anything, but now she and her staff can breath and branch out a bit. While the menu hasn’t changed much, she’s been adding to it — with such items as a blue cheese pizza with bacon.

In the new location for three weeks, the store’s Facebook page has been getting five-star reviews.

“I definitely expanded,” Amaya said. “I’ve got a line of grocery and I have some cooler space, so I have cold pasta salads and puddings and tossed salads.”

There are still cold and hot sandwiches, pizza and you can get beer and cigarettes, and there’s a whole row of Moxie products.

The clientele is different too in the new location. There have been more families coming in with kids, as well as older patrons, as there is a mobile home park not far from the store. She’s still waiting for people to start taking advantage of the groceries.

Someday she hopes to have a sit-down area for dining as well.

Her next goal, however, is to get a stove in Chris’ House so she can start making more food herself like fresh muffins, meatballs and pasta salad.

“It’s all about the quality and people can taste the difference. And it’s cheaper to make,” she said.

Amaya said her business has always been about quality. People will become regular customers if you give them a clean place, with good service and quality food. If you have those three things, she believes, you have a good business.

“Don’t try to gyp them,” she said.

All of Amaya’s employees came with her to the new store. There are about 10 of them, with one the biggest downsides being that many are in high school and used to walk to the old location.

While for the moment the morning business has been slow, the evenings have made up for it because nighttime business “is just cranking,” Amaya said. The cooks are blowing through pizzas. Amaya advises people ordering pizza at night to call at least 30 minutes in advance.

Amaya also wants to have pizza packs for customers who want to take a pizza home, but one of her employees pointed out that not everyone knows how to stretch a pizza.

“So why don’t we have a pizza class,” Amaya said. She hopes to get a sign-up sheet going for that once school starts.

A new store sign is also on the horizon.

“Great things come with time,” she said.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

Information

CHRIS’ HOUSE

Location: 10 Memorial St., Lisbon

Current hours: Monday through Saturday, 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; closed Sunday

Phone: (207) 407-4521

Facebook: Chris’ House