The new Village Grocery and Refillery, born in part out of a COVID-19-related adaptation to Mark Palmer and Anthea White's business Village Coffee and Goods, is now open and offers a curated selection of healthy and organic food options at 2 Jansen Ave.

When the pandemic struck the area last spring, forcing Village Coffee to suspend in-person dining at the Railroad Avenue café, they transitioned to offering groceries in the sit-down dining area and it quickly proved very popular, Palmer said.

It started with a few things like pasta, a bag of flour, bags of fresh greens or perhaps some organic mushrooms. But as it grew it overtook the entire seating area and they added in a prep area, he said.

The couple soon faced a new logistical problem — there wasn't enough space to keep up with demand. But they lived just a block away from the former Sunshine Market, which now houses the new grocery store. "Maybe we could do something here," the couple thought.

Even before the pandemic, Palmer said, they'd dreamed of doing something with groceries. That dream became reality last October when the couple inked a lease for the space next to the Kingston Standard craft brewery.

"We were going to try and do a grocery store since that's what it is already," Palmer said.

As they moved into the grocery business, Palmer said they could lean on a strong relationship they already built with farmers who worked with the coffee shop along with Kingston's proximity to numerous local farms.

"It's completely unique, with farms all over the place and foraging," Palmer said. "You can't get that everywhere, certainly not in the city."

But the lingering question for the couple remained how to present this idea to customers and deal with logistical challenges, including having more coolers.

Palmer said they poured over 50 designs for space before landing on the present design. Before the pandemic, they envisioned a space with a piano, tables and chairs more closely resembling a small eatery. But that doesn’t work in an age of social distancing. "We don't know how much longer it will before that vibe can be created again," Palmer said.

Things have been busy so far and the couple is awaiting their state beer and cider license. "People are saying they live a minute or a block away," Palmer said. "There are people going to the rail trail entrance, hospital workers and workers at Kingston City Hall." Many of their customers at the grocery store are regulars at Village Coffee and Goods, he added.

Palmer said they come for the specialty produce, all of which comes directly from farms, mostly local, the deli and the coffee, fresh pasta and fresh dumplings which they put in the freezer. It’s also popular among weekenders, many partaking in a pizza at Kingston Standard just across the street.

He recommends going over to the brewery to have a pizza, particularly their sourdough one. "It's really great," Palmer said.

Palmer said the store helps to tackle a food desert in Midtown, particularly when it comes to things like fresh produce. "The food has to be exciting and artistic and has to be nutritional," he said.

While customers won't find things like national-brand ketchup and mayonnaise, they'll stock such things if he can find an alternative that's a bit healthier, he said.

As for setting themselves apart from larger supermarkets, Palmer said the problem with bigger stores is there is too much choice. They prefer offering a carefully curated selection of only things they love. "At those stores, there's a whole aisle of potato chips, I love potato chips, but we have the best of what we feel is really necessary," Palmer said.

Palmer said their curation comes down to the details like their relationships with farmers and food-creatives.

"They're our friends, it's something we love or something that has to be good," Palmer said. "The business has good ethics, it's charitable and organic if it's not local, it's ethical and sourced responsibly. "People come to expect these things in our stores."

Palmer said that sense of responsibility extends to giving back to the community and anytime they have extra stuff leftover they take to area pantries or the two community fridges.

In addition to indoor shopping, the store, marked by a colorful exterior paint job and a neon sign made by Downs Street-based Lite Bright Neon, also offers a pick-up window where people can order groceries online for pickup.

Palmer said they tried delivery but that proved far less popular and they discontinued it. "We found people wanted to get out of the house and go somewhere, even if they didn't get out of their car," Palmer said.

Palmer and his wife were both born in Australia and were touring musicians with the jazz/soul act the Hipstones before they decided to settle down after they had a child five years ago.

While Palmer said their days of touring internationally are over, they're not ready to give up on music entirely and are working on creating a small music studio next to Village Coffee and Goods. Before the pandemic put the brakes on live music worldwide, they were performing locally with Robbie Dupree.

"We've opened for him and been in his band," Palmer said. "These were beautiful little shows, with locals and were good fun."

Village Coffee and Refillery is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check them out on Instagram here.