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V O L . X X X I N O. X I X 42 Fact Book / Doing Business in Maine B U S I N E S S R E S O U R C E S An Aroostook County supermarket is a lifeline for residents For Mainers, and especially those who live in Aroostook County, two of the most important things about living here are community and continuity. As a business that has been in opera- tion since 1935, Graves Supermarket in Presque Isle provides both. Originally founded as Red and White Supermarket in Mars Hill, the Graves family moved the business to Presque Isle where it has operated as an independent grocery store for decades and carries products under the Hannaford brand. As the supermarket started approach- ing its 90 th year of operation and having weathered the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Graves family looked for ways to secure the future of the business and retain a fixture of their community as they aged out of business ownership. It was at this point that Brandon Hopkins stepped in to purchase the supermar- ket from the children of the founder in January 2022. Recognizing the need to assure customers that they would see the same quality of service and products, Brandon retained the name Graves Supermarket, and with the assistance of an SBA loan from Machias Savings Bank in 2024, the change in ownership was fully financed and completed. rough the use of the SBA Loan Guaranty program, this business was able to transition to new ownership and solidify a future in Aroostook County. Even with all of the chal- lenges faced by businesses in the past few years, Brandon and his team have developed strategies to adapt as these challenges come up by using his expe- riences as an Army veteran. e major challenge recently has been finding and retaining enough employees, as despite employing 55 to 60 local residents on a monthly basis, the store could always use more hands to help stock shelves and assist customers. As he continues to build on the foundation laid by the Graves family, Brandon also recognizes the impor- tance of supporting the community as a small business owner. Whether it is by donating food platters and products like hot dogs for fundraisers, or supporting Aroostook House of Comfort, the local hospice organization, Brandon sees himself and his business as an integral part of the Aroostook community. At Perkins Thompson, we draw upon our collective knowledge and experience to deliver legal services with a personal touch. No matter what issue our clients come to us with, we work collaboratively to set the highest standard of representation and secure unmatched results. Legal Partners You Can Trust Your Success is Our Legacy. 207.774.2635 | PERKINSTHOMPSON.COM | 200 MIDDLE STREET, SUITE 901, PORTLAND, ME 04101 ยป C O N T I N U E D F RO M PA G E 3 8 P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F G R AV E S S U P E R M A R K E T Graves Supermarket in Mars Hill has been around 90 years, but it was through an SBA loan from Machias Savings Bank that it was able to change hands in 2024