Weekly Interview, Phil and Debi Parker - by Amanda Estes
By Amanda Estes
Staff Write
Whether you’re a Scarborough resident or a regular to Higgins Beach, chances are you’ve stopped into Higgins Beach Market.
In a town that is sometimes criticized for not having any real town center, Phil and Debi Parker have turned an old farm stand, at the gateway to Higgins Beach on Spurwink Road, into a gathering place for people in search of a morning coffee, a snack for the beach, a bottle of wine, or just some conversation.
“One man said we brought the community together,” Debi said during a recent interview at the market.
“It’s a place where in the morning people like to come for their coffee and just chat to see what is going to be going on that day,” Phil added. When they first purchased the market, Phil said people used to come in just to see Bucky, their golden retriever. Bucky III is now supervising the premises, but people are still stopping in just to chat.
In between waiting on customers and baking cookies, Debi and Phil shared their appreciation for a community that values the small business as they have seen farm stands around them go under.
Their produce selection comes from a variety of sources including the Boston farmer’s market, local farmers and local people who maybe find themselves with more rhubarb or raspberries than they know what to do with.
In the seasonal fruits and vegetables category, Phil said their inventory includes asparagus, blueberries, corn, fiddleheads, lettuce, peas, raspberries, rhubarb and strawberries. He summed up the list by saying, “As soon as it’s available, we have it.”
The building that currently houses the market has a history that Phil estimated dates back to the 1940s.
“It was a fried clam place at one time,” he said. “Then Jean purchased it (in the early 1950s) and turned it into a market, veggie stand and a flower stand.”
In 1991, before the Parker’s took ownership, the late newscaster Bob Elliot recognized the site as a “Bob’s Landmark.”
“If somebody is going to meet somebody down at Higgins Beach they say meet us at Higgins Beach Market,” said Phil elaborating on the distinction. “It was landmarks he thought people knew very well.”
In 1991, the Gutters added a prep room to the building, which would eventually open the door and inspire the Parkers to build on the market’s history when they purchased the property in 1999.
Phil’s brother-in-law’s father, Jean Gutter, owned the market at the time and his wife and sister both worked there during the summer.
“I called up Jean and asked him if he wanted to sell the market to me,” Phil said. “I like the outdoor feeling and my wife and I always wanted to run a business together and this worked out perfect.” With the reputation for quality that had already been established, Phil said all they did was “add to it and be friendly and everything fell into place.”
At the core of the Parker’s changes to the market was a desire to listen to the customers and to give the people what they wanted. Phil said they offer a gourmet shop with a selection of wine, cheese, breads and even roasted chickens.
With their close proximity to the beach, the market has to cater to a variety of tastes and the Parkers said they get a good mix of locals, tourists, beach people, Prouts Neck residents, Old Orchard Beach residents-in short people from all around.
Customers dropping in on Monday afternoon wasted no time in paying compliments to the modest pair. One man, immediately greeted with “Hi, Bob,” by Debi said the market’s pizza would “probably be either a Friday or Saturday night tradition now.” That’s right-with fresh dough and a state of the art pizza oven-Higgins Beach Market is not your typical roadside establishment.
Another regular customer said she was glad to have the market open after a long winter.
“Here’s your cream cheese brownie girl, Phil,” Debi said as she rang up the sweet snack. “A lot of the bakeries went out of business…so we had to find a way to do (bakery items) ourselves.”
From the prep room, where he was preparing a batch of cookies for the shelves, Phil said, “It takes everything we’ve done to make a living.” He said it is becoming harder and harder for small businesses, especially farmers, to survive in today’s economic climate. He said it means a great deal to them when customers will come to their market first and then go to the grocery store.
“I wish more people would do that for the farmers in town,” he said.
At the end of their season, Debi admitted thoughts of selling the market cross her mind.
“You think at the end of the year, ‘I’m tired,’…but at the beginning of the year when you’re full of energy, your tune changes,” she said. “It’s the perfect job, you’re outside…and you met a lot of nice people. They become your friends.”
Higgins Beach Market, located at 82 Spurwink Road in Scarborough, is open from mid-May to mid-October. Before July 1 and after Sept. 1, the stand is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from July 1 to Aug. 31, the stand is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 883-2766.
Staff Write
Whether you’re a Scarborough resident or a regular to Higgins Beach, chances are you’ve stopped into Higgins Beach Market.
In a town that is sometimes criticized for not having any real town center, Phil and Debi Parker have turned an old farm stand, at the gateway to Higgins Beach on Spurwink Road, into a gathering place for people in search of a morning coffee, a snack for the beach, a bottle of wine, or just some conversation.
“One man said we brought the community together,” Debi said during a recent interview at the market.
“It’s a place where in the morning people like to come for their coffee and just chat to see what is going to be going on that day,” Phil added. When they first purchased the market, Phil said people used to come in just to see Bucky, their golden retriever. Bucky III is now supervising the premises, but people are still stopping in just to chat.
In between waiting on customers and baking cookies, Debi and Phil shared their appreciation for a community that values the small business as they have seen farm stands around them go under.
Their produce selection comes from a variety of sources including the Boston farmer’s market, local farmers and local people who maybe find themselves with more rhubarb or raspberries than they know what to do with.
In the seasonal fruits and vegetables category, Phil said their inventory includes asparagus, blueberries, corn, fiddleheads, lettuce, peas, raspberries, rhubarb and strawberries. He summed up the list by saying, “As soon as it’s available, we have it.”
The building that currently houses the market has a history that Phil estimated dates back to the 1940s.
“It was a fried clam place at one time,” he said. “Then Jean purchased it (in the early 1950s) and turned it into a market, veggie stand and a flower stand.”
In 1991, before the Parker’s took ownership, the late newscaster Bob Elliot recognized the site as a “Bob’s Landmark.”
“If somebody is going to meet somebody down at Higgins Beach they say meet us at Higgins Beach Market,” said Phil elaborating on the distinction. “It was landmarks he thought people knew very well.”
In 1991, the Gutters added a prep room to the building, which would eventually open the door and inspire the Parkers to build on the market’s history when they purchased the property in 1999.
Phil’s brother-in-law’s father, Jean Gutter, owned the market at the time and his wife and sister both worked there during the summer.
“I called up Jean and asked him if he wanted to sell the market to me,” Phil said. “I like the outdoor feeling and my wife and I always wanted to run a business together and this worked out perfect.” With the reputation for quality that had already been established, Phil said all they did was “add to it and be friendly and everything fell into place.”
At the core of the Parker’s changes to the market was a desire to listen to the customers and to give the people what they wanted. Phil said they offer a gourmet shop with a selection of wine, cheese, breads and even roasted chickens.
With their close proximity to the beach, the market has to cater to a variety of tastes and the Parkers said they get a good mix of locals, tourists, beach people, Prouts Neck residents, Old Orchard Beach residents-in short people from all around.
Customers dropping in on Monday afternoon wasted no time in paying compliments to the modest pair. One man, immediately greeted with “Hi, Bob,” by Debi said the market’s pizza would “probably be either a Friday or Saturday night tradition now.” That’s right-with fresh dough and a state of the art pizza oven-Higgins Beach Market is not your typical roadside establishment.
Another regular customer said she was glad to have the market open after a long winter.
“Here’s your cream cheese brownie girl, Phil,” Debi said as she rang up the sweet snack. “A lot of the bakeries went out of business…so we had to find a way to do (bakery items) ourselves.”
From the prep room, where he was preparing a batch of cookies for the shelves, Phil said, “It takes everything we’ve done to make a living.” He said it is becoming harder and harder for small businesses, especially farmers, to survive in today’s economic climate. He said it means a great deal to them when customers will come to their market first and then go to the grocery store.
“I wish more people would do that for the farmers in town,” he said.
At the end of their season, Debi admitted thoughts of selling the market cross her mind.
“You think at the end of the year, ‘I’m tired,’…but at the beginning of the year when you’re full of energy, your tune changes,” she said. “It’s the perfect job, you’re outside…and you met a lot of nice people. They become your friends.”
Higgins Beach Market, located at 82 Spurwink Road in Scarborough, is open from mid-May to mid-October. Before July 1 and after Sept. 1, the stand is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from July 1 to Aug. 31, the stand is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 883-2766.
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