By GINGER KOZLOWSKI
Staff Writer

The business housed in Robie’s Country Store has its second set of new owners since reopening under the watchful care of the Robie’s Country Store Preservation Corporation.

Steve Christou and Dan Mitton of Hooksett have decided to move to Florida and sold the business to Kevin and Donna Brown of Concord. They had originally signed a five-year lease to run the historic store.

THE DEALIS MADE – Kevin Brown, the new business ownerof Robie’s Country Store, shakes hands with formerownerSteve Christou at the closing of the sale. At left is Brown’s wife, Donna. Between them are Stan Evans and Dan Mitton. At far right is Lisa Christou. The Browns are from Concord, and previously lived in Bow. (Courtesy Photo)

For five generations, Robie’s Country Store was run by the Robie family. When Dorothy and Lloyd Robie retired from the business, the store shut down for five years, only to be revived by the Robie’s Country Store Preservation Corporation. The corporation, which owns the land and building, managed to have the building put on the National Registry of Historic Buildings and found Christou and Mitton to be the right people to run a business that would keep the character and history of the building alive. Robie’s reopened on May 24, 2003, after closing in 1997.

The Browns had been looking for a business opportunity for about a year.

“I contacted the broker and I said, ‘Well, I think I’ll drive by and stop in,’” said Kevin Brown. “I walked in and took a look around, and it was funny, just by walking into the store, there was such a good feel about it.”

The Browns looked at the potential of the store and found its history and neighborhood connections to be attractive. Neither had run a retail operation before, but Kevin Brown, 44, has been a executive vice president for companies in the Boston area in charge of sales and marketing, and Donna Brown, 43, ran Buyer’s Resource, a buyer’s real estate agency.

The Browns plan to keep the historic character of Robie’s alive.

“From a visual standpoint,” he said, “we’re going to keep the character. We want that to stay. The only thing we would, in terms of change, is to enhance that feel, add to it.”

Brown said he would like to expand the deli and catering options and develop some private label products to make the Robie’s name more valuable and sell those online as well as at the store.

“Steve and Dan have revived a great town institution,” said Hooksett Town Councilor Michael DiBitetto. “In doing so, they have been successful in keeping the best of the old country store while introducing wonderful new foods and services. ‘Coffee at Robies’has become a tradition for a whole new generation of fans, myself included. I am confident that the new proprietors have recognized what a great thing has been reborn in Robie’s Country Store. Hopefully, they can find new and exciting ways to build upon Steve’s and Dan’s hard work and accomplishments.”

“The Preservation Corporation was sad to hear the news that Steve and Dan would be moving and selling their business operation at Robie's Country Store,” said Dawn Stanhope, treasurer for the Preservation Corporation. “We are grateful for their efforts in bringing the store back to life once again for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. The board of directors is very pleased with the vision that Kevin and Donna Brown have for continuing the operation of this Hooksett landmark.”

On their first day in business, Monday, Dec. 13, Kevin Brown was already learning the ropes.

“Yesterday, for the first time in my life I baked 240 cookies!” he said.

Mitton and Christou left the cookie recipes.

“People have said, ‘Whatever you do, do not stop the cookies’” said Brown.