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Sandy’s Fine Foods Celebrating 50 Year Anniversary
Sandy’s Fine Food Emporium, a Westerly staple, is celebrating 50 years of incorporation this year. In 1952, brothers Sam & Mickey Cofone founded Sandy’s Fruit Company in Pawcatuck, CT as a small fruit and vegetable stand. 1972 proved to be a pivotal year for the business, transforming it into what it is known as today. The store was moved to its current location and became incorporated as Sandy’s Fine Food Emporium under the new ownership of Bob Hoffman. Over the years, Sandy’s thrived and transformed with the times. Keeping high quality produce was always a top priority, but they also became known for their fine grocery items, and most notably, their deli. Made in house, Sandy’s prides itself on the entrees, soups & prepared foods their talented chefs create.
After managing the store for years, husband and wife Jim & Emma Lee Goddiess took ownership in 2006. The small, local business has managed to blossom and grow throughout the past 50 years. Starting as a small fruit stand, the store has shown value to its community and loyal customer base. As consumers eating habits have fluctuated through the years, they have continued to stay relevant and always provide the best quality food to their patrons. Stop & Shop opened directly across the street in the 1980s, which could have meant the end for the small store. Despite a big box supermarket becoming a direct competitor, economic highs and lows, ever changing eating trends, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Sandy’s has consistently found the ability to highlight its uniqueness while flourishing and remaining a Westerly institution that will never be replicated. What will the next 50 years hold for this local gem and others like it? Who will be the next generation to grab the baton from the current owners and continue the traditions and values of integral small-town businesses like Sandy’s? What innovations, cultural movements, and seismic events will shift the next 50 years of the hometown American grocery store?
Follow along on social media at @sandyswesterly to stay up to date on daily specials & more!
Castle Hill Inn’s “Gilded Age Experience”
Rich in history and old-world charm, Castle Hill Inn has captured the imagination of guests for over a century. Built in 1874 as one of Newport’s summer “cottages,” Castle Hill Inn is introducing a brand new “Gilded Age Experience” package this spring, inspired by the popular HBO series (season finale airs tonight!).
Certain to have guests feeling like a member of Mrs. Astor’s Four Hundred, those who book this package will delight in a two-night stay at Castle Hill Inn, a Tasting Menu Experience for Two at the Dining Room at Castle Hill Inn, and two tickets to one of the Newport Preservation Society mansions that directly inspired the décor of the Russells’ New York City palace. Several scenes from this lavish costume drama were also filmed within them. Julian Fellowes would surely approve!
The “Gilded Age Experience” travel package at Castle Hill Inn also includes gourmet daily breakfast, guest-only afternoon tea, and a welcome amenity upon arrival. Pricing starts from $1,185 for the two-night package, which can be booked here: https://www.castlehillinn.com/specials/gilded-age-package
Its enchanting coastal setting, relaxed elegance and authentic Newport spirit make Castle Hill Inn an ideal year-round destination for guests seeking the magic and quiet luxury of a 19th-century seacoast life nestled on a 40-acre peninsula overlooking Narragansett Bay – and is perfect for a spring or summer getaway for fans of the HBO series.
