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Thank You, Mr. Reny
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
By Kit Hayden
NEWCASTLE (Aug 4): It's hard when the good ones go, but, as frequently said, the occasion should be a celebration of joyous
appreciation for all they have done. This is easy in the case of Robert Reny.
The Reny store is and has been Damariscotta. It's a foundation of a number of communities, but not like Damariscotta where Bob
Reny lived. I've watched many favored stores disappear from this downtown, but, thankfully, Renys has remained. If that leaves
I think I might too.
Before the grip of Alzheimer's, Bob was frequently seen in his stores and on the street, cheerfully greeting people, kissing the
ladies' hands, telling sometimes credible stories. He liked to ask foreigners from whence they came. My son recalls being with me
one day when Bob gripped my hand in his big paw and queried, "Where are you folks from?" I answered with similar heartiness,
"Newcastle!" It didn't faze him for a moment. He simply moved on to the next foreigner.
Local curmudgeon playwright Art Mayers has written a show
called "Renys: the Musical." It's about, well, I think you can guess. I was a part of it when it was presented in Waldoboro a
number of years ago. The show was wildly successful, selling out night after night. I also took a small part when it was
staged a few years ago at the Lincoln County Theater (the building presented to the town by Mr. Reny, the philanthropist.),
and it has been shown in other venues around the state, always drawing capacity crowds. It's a good show with good music,
but the real appeal is Mr. Reny himself. People want to see and be amused by a play about Renys.
I was flattered that Art picked up on a few of my ad-libs in the show and made them part of the book. I have a habit of
ad-libbing in farcical situations, a habit not kindly looked upon by most directors, but Art's more easy-going.
For example, in a late scene, a customer with a cart full of items is checking out at closing time, and the clerk is
fumbling with the individual items. I offered, "Just count the number of pieces and multiply by 99 cents." That got a laugh.
It's getting harder to maintain, but the signature 99 cent items are still available at Renys, like the penny candy at
Granite Hall in Round Pond. Unfortunately, the sales tax spoils the fun by pushing the price over a dollar. I think it
would be a nice gesture, as a memorial to Mr. Reny, if the state legislature passed a law such that any item priced 99
cents carries a sales tax of only a penny. Then every time you make such a purchase and hand over a buck you think of
Bob. Yeah, I know, too complicated; but doesn't the legislature like to make things complicated?
I'm sure many worry that the store will never be the same. It won't be the same for two reasons. First, it never has
been the same. Perhaps to keep the staff occupied the stock is in constant rotation. Items are rarely found in the
location where you found them yesterday. I once asked an employee why this was so; does it not irritate the customer?
Her answer was, "I forces you to look at different things; maybe you'll buy something on impulse." Now that's
sophisticated marketing!
The second, and more fundamental reason is because retail is under increasing pressure from Big Box or Internet, and
change is inevitable. Fortunately, while it changes, Renys has been run competently and well for a number of years by
the progeny without the grand old man. It remains Renys, and it will continue to get my commerce.
Recently I asked my dearest friend if she could think of anybody who was truly, sincerely happy in this age. We couldn't
come up with a name. We're all burdened. I thought of this when I read of Mr. Reny's passing; "Aha! I believe that might be one."
I smile to think of it.
We will miss Bob. Fare forward, friend.
Excerpt From: Village Soup, May 2009
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R.H. Reny, Inc.
731 Route 1
Newcastle, Maine 04553
Phone: (207)563-3177
Fax: (207)563-5681
E-Mail: feedback@renys.com
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