Country Plus Worries about the Future of Downtown

Judy Coffey, owner of , has been in town since 1978, and running her antique store for 28 years. She is concerned about the future of her small, successful enterprise.

“I think what the downtown initiative steering committee is doing is going to have a huge impact on downtown,” Coffey said. “I think it’s a personal agenda, and the people trying to make new plans are looking to clear what’s here.”

Coffey believes that there is more than enough room for both the existing businesses and newcomers to coexist in the same space.

“I would welcome and love to see new businesses in town,” she said. “I think, from what I’ve heard, there is a way to make Hopkinton welcoming to new businesses,  but not at the cost of the existing store owners.”

Coffey believes the owners of the existing buildings need to step up and choose to update their buildings.

“People need to come down to Earth,” she said. “Right now, construction starting will put me out of business. We need the people who own the buildings to step up and update them.”

Coffey’s store was born out of her love for both antiques and the town of Hopkinton.

“I have lived here for a very long time, and I love the town,” she said. “I also love antiques. My store is a combination of authentic antiques (the real deal) as well as a variety of different decorations including candles, jewelry , flowers, flower arrangements and a variety of seasonal decorations.”

Coffey’s store is transformed each season into a new display of the upcoming season.

“We tastefully display a combination of seasonal decorations and antiques in the store,” she said.

is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. They suggest that you call to make sure they are open in nasty weather.

“I also extend my hours for visitors around the time of the marathon,” Coffey said. “I cannot be open on the day of the race so I try to accommodate visitors schedules by extending my hours before and after race day. I also extend my hours for PolyArts.

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