New Day Dawns As Schmidt's Country Market Opens In Quogue:

QUOGUE, NY — Hearts were heavy and many were outraged after Schmidt's Market in Southampton closed in October. But now, residents and longtime customers are rejoicing as plans for a new Schmidt's County Market take place at a location in Quogue.

According to Dennis Schmidt, owner of the market on North Sea Road, his lease expired in September and then, owners of the building decided to sell at a price that was "out of reach."

Despite the anguish of having to close, now, a new day is dawning as Schmidt's Country Market is set to reopen, helmed by Schmidt's son and co-owner Daniel, who worked side by side with his father for years.

The new business will be run by Daniel Schmidt, his wife, Karen, and their children Jo, Cameron and Lilli, he said.

"We're super excited," he told Patch on Wednesday. "And it seems like everyone else is super excited, as well."

For Schmidt, the journey is deeply personal. "This is me, going out on my own, my first shot at it."

The new market will be located at the site of the former Quogue Country Market at 146 Jessup Ave. in Quogue.

Describing the journey that led to his new beginning, Schmidt said he'd gotten an email from Quogue Village Mayor Robert Treuhold about the available space.

Right after the Southampton business closed, Schmidt said, "I didn't respond at first because I didn't know what I wanted. After a few weeks, I decided to reach out, to go see the space. At that point, I knew what I wanted to do — I just had to find the right spot."

Although he'd seen potential spots in Eastport, Westhampton and Speonk, the Quogue location was already set up for Schmidt to "walk in and do what I was doing, with just making a couple of changes and then, getting right up and running."

After speaking with the owners of the building, negotiations began to lease the market. "And now, here we are," Schmidt said.

His plan is to open his doors the first week of March, Schmidt said. On the menu will be a full roster of Schmidt's favorites, as well as an extensive salad bar, hot and cold grab-and-go options, fresh produce, great music and a happy and attentive staff, he said.

The community has received the news with an outpouring of support and joy, Schmidt said.

"The response has been insane," he said.

Schmidt grew up learning the business he loves by his father and uncle's sides.

"As I was growing up, I was constantly around the family business. We would go to farms with my dad, the market with my uncle, make deliveries, work on the register. The store was our second home," he said. "I just loved it and wanted to go into the family business so much."

And while he treasured the years in Southampton, working side by side with his father, he's long yearned to take the reins and start out on his own.

"I always wanted to have my own business," he said. "This happened at the right time. Some things closing, some opening — new chapters, new doors. It all just came together."

Saying goodbye to the Southampton store was not easy, he said. So many longtime customers were broken-hearted; even Southampton Village Mayor Jesse Warren wrote a letter to the property owners, imploring them to let the Schmidts keep their lease.

The response, Schmidt said, "has been so touching to my heart."

"Leaving was really tough. But once we're open again, I can't wait to see everyone smile, laugh, cry. At the time, I thought my life was over, everything was done. Now, here we are, 2 1/2 months later, and I'm back in action," he said.

The happy ending is one many had predicted would come to be, Schmidt said. "Everyone told me, when the store was closing, 'Don't worry. There's a plan in place. Something good is going to come out of this,'" he said, his voice swelling with emotion. "These are happy tears."

Schmidt is thrilled to be embarking on the new chapter with his wife and children — his family lives in Hampton Bays, and his goal is to give back to the community, including the school.

"Anything I can do with donations, supporting the Little League, community events. We're here to give everyone a dynamite place to go and shop at a reasonable price, where people don't feel taken advantage of," he said. "We want to keep prices low."

Looking ahead, Schmidt said, "I look forward to seeing people when we open. I can't wait."