Finley's only grocery store to receive new building

At Stone's Market, when it rains, it pours -- right into the only grocery store in Finley, N.D.

"It rains in the storeroom, not on the shelves," said Tracy Stone, who owns the business with her husband, Alan. "To me, it's humorous, because if I didn't laugh, I'd probably cry."

A 10-by-12-foot tarp covering a porous section of the roof that helps to channel water away from the soft spots in the roof.

"I call it my piece of art," she said. "Another load of snow like we had last winter? That might do it."

The community is coming to her aid -- before, she hopes, the next snowfall.

The Finley Economic Development Corporation is raising money to build a new 76-by-100-foot building for the store, which will be located kitty-corner across the street from Town and Country Co-op.

The group wants to break ground later this month, with the new store to be opened by Oct. 1, said Laurie Tuite, loan specialist and administrative assistant for the Griggs-Steele Empowerment Zone, a local economic development organization.

The fundraising effort recently surpassed $100,000 toward a goal of $350,000.

The EDC held a community supper and informational meeting Sunday. The Finley Wildlife Club also conducted a fundraising event over the weekend.

Under the proposed plan, the Finley EDC would own the building and some of the equipment. The Stones would lease the property.

The new building will be fully accessible, with wide aisles and everything on one floor.

That's not the case today.

Stone's Market is in an old building with three steps at the entrance. The compressors are located in the basement, Stone said.

Tracy Stone said she tars the roof every year, but she still has to battle water.

"You walk on the roof, and it's like walking on a cloud," she said.

She recalls leading an air conditioning technician to the roof one day last year to repair the air conditioning unit.

"He dropped his toolbox and the whole roof shook," she said. "Then, he dropped to his knees."

The Stones operated Stone's Market nearby Aneta, N.D., before buying the Finley business. Tracy runs the store. Her husband soon will graduate with a nursing degree from Lake Region State College.

The community has been considering a new grocery store for a few years, even before the Stones bought the store, building and equipment.

Tuite said the most recent effort involved converting the town's bowling alley building into a grocery store. But that project turned to out to be cost-prohibitive.

"The building is in dire straits," Tuite said. "We have an aging population and we want to make it accessible.

At the community meeting, leaders made a plea for donations -- either financial or labor, to help get the project completed.

"We need to raise enough money, so when we finance, we can do an affordable lease for the Stones," Tuite said. "The Stones have been very good to the community."

Reach Bonham at (701) 780-1110; (800) 477-6572, ext. 110; or send e-mail to kbonham@gfherald.com .