Country Store
Has ‘Drive-Through’
By Cornelia Cesari

On Friday, Aug. 17, at 12:40 p.m., just before the usual lunch crowd was expected, Katie Bylow and Rick Ackerman were working the register at the historic Chelsea Country Store when they heard a tremendous crash.

"I didn’t know what was going on!" Katie recalled. "Then I saw dust flying up, and there were wine bottles everywhere. I thought some shelves had just fallen down."

When the dust cleared, however, they were shocked to see the front end of a Subaru Impreza jutting into the store.

According to Orange County Sheriff Bill Bohnyak, driver Patricia Wood, 70, of Chelsea, had mistakenly stepped on the gas, rather than the brake, as she pulled into the parking lot. Still thinking her foot was on the brake pedal, she stepped down harder, driving through the wood section of wall.

Fortunately, no one was injured. All the customers in the store were at the register, according to Katie.

"I had just finished stocking lettuce on the produce shelf in that corner," said Rick. "Good thing I went over to help up front."

Shelves had crashed down, scattering goods. Broken glass and wine covered the floor. The hood of the Subaru was barely visible amidst a jumble of produce, torn paper goods, and splintered wood. The store was closed for the remainder of the day, as the owners and employees pitched in to clean up.

Jane Ackerman predicts the damage may exceed $30,000, taking into account the lost business and spoiled stock, as well as damage to the wall, shelving, floor, and possibly a cooler.

Contractors are already beginning the repair and remodeling process, but the store is open for business, with the damaged area cordoned off and the faint fragrance of spilled wine in the air.

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