Bethel’s Brick Store Is
For Sale—with Soda Fountain
By Sandy Vondrasek Cooch

Proprietor Mary Floyd sits at the white marble countertop of the antique soda fountain at Bethel's Brick Store. The historic building on Bethel's Main Street is for sale. (Herald / Tim Calabro)

It’s time for a new chapter in the 129-year history of Bethel’s Brick Store, as well as in the life of its owners for the past 15 of those years, Mary and Bill Floyd.

The handsome and "very solid" Main Street store, built in 1878, is on the market, and the store’s inventory and antique fixtures are now on sale, Mary Floyd said this week.

However, she is keeping a protective eye on the historic white marble soda fountain that has been the centerpiece of the store since the 1960s.

Floyd said she fought to have a clause included in the property listing stipulating that the fountain would be sold with the store if, and only if, it would be used as a fountain, or, at least, "to promote the business." Failing that, Floyd said she would retain ownership, and likely donate the unit to the Bethel Historical Society, or to a state museum.

Floyd made ice cream sodas at the fountain until a few years ago, when the carbonator broke down. The Floyds eventually located someone who could fix it, but then, with the decision to sell, they decided not to invest in the repair.

Floyd, a Bethel native, clearly understands that she and her husband have been temporary custodians of a piece of local history. She is pleased that most of the other store fixtures she already sold, including a 13-foot wooden table, original to the store, have been purchased by local businesses and will be staying in the area.

Mary and Bill Floyd bought the Mills Store from Margaret Mills in 1991. At the time Mary was working at the Bethel school, where she had been teaching since 1969.

She noted that it was Margaret Mills who had brought the soda fountain to the store. The fountain, with its 12-foot counter, old-fashioned foot rail, and sundry syrup-holding and soda-making fixtures, was previously installed at two other locations in Bethel, both "hotel drug stores," Floyd said.

The Mills Store purveyed clothing, primarily, as did a previous incarnation of the store, Brooks & Washburn.

"It’s a real nostalgia trip when people come in," Floyd said.

Those old enough to remember the era of Brooks & Washburn, she said, also remember Grace Dean, who would do custom tailoring upstairs.

That second floor of the building was not in use when the Floyds bought the business, but about 10 years ago, Mary Floyd opened up the space, and used it to display and sell handcrafted items on consignment.

Six years ago, the Floyds cut back on their clothing inventory and converted the back part of the ground floor as a showroom for Vermont Castings stoves. It was particularly appropriate that Bill Floyd should become a Vermont Castings dealer, as he was the first employee of the business, shortly after it was started by brothers-in-law Duncan Syme and Murray Howell.

The Floyds put the store briefly on the market two years ago, but then took it off when their son Wade stepped in to help run the stove dealership.

Today, the stove floor models are on sale, and the other inventory—clothing, gifts, books, and souvenir items, is being sold at discount.

There have been several parties interested in the property, "for a variety of reasons," but no firm buyer, yet, Floyd said.

"It’s time to move on," she said, adding that she was ready to have time to herself and to "finish unfinished projects."

"My goal," she said, "is to be out of here by the end of June."