Three Minutes Across the Counter With: Chet Strout

You may know that he owns Chet's Video & Candy Shoppe on Essex Street, but did you know he's lived in town for 47 years? Spend three minutes behind the counter with Marblehead's resident movie expert, Chet Strout. 

Patch: How did you get your first start in business?

Chet: I've always wanted to have my own video store. One day in a chance drive-by, my wife and I saw a for rent sign at our current location, and the rest is history.

P: How long have you lived here?

C: I moved to Marblehead at the age of 8, and other than a small break of 10 years, I've lived here ever since. A total of 47 years.

P: What's your favorite thing about living here?

C:  Along with being my home town, I love the seasons here. Marblehead is also a great community to raise your kids in.

P: What's a business mistake you've made that later you were glad you did?

C: Back in 1997 we opened a small candy store around the corner, in the same building. It was too expensive to keep afloat and within a year we closed the doors. With that we brought all our penny candy into the video store, and that has been one of the best decisions we've ever made.

P: Tell us something about yourself that most of your neighbors don't know.

C: I grew up in Marblehead, and can't swim.

P: What's the best business advice you've ever received?

C: Before we even opened, I read an article geared toward entrepreneurs in the video field. And not that i wouldn't have done it anyways, it talked about making your business family friendly.

P: What advice would you give to a small business owner just starting out?

C: I would stress the importance of customer service.

P: What do you look for when you hire?

C: Our staff mainly consists of high school students. We like them to have an outgoing personality, a desire to work with people and a genuine love of movies.

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Nominate a Marblehead business owner for our next Patch Park Bench interview. Send suggestions to owen.boss@patch.com.