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Little Store on Leahy begins to take shape

David and Suzan Galt have been dreaming for several years of resurrecting the “Little Store” at the corner of Leahy Road and 90th in the West Haven neighborhood. The original building was there since the 1940s, as a small convenience store with an apartment above it. It had sat empty for several years before they bought it.

They began in May 2013 to get the necessary approvals from the county to continue the “non-conforming use” (because of the lot size) and to make a slight expansion—an additional 500 square feet. Originally they planned to remodel the existing building, but found so many problems that they used the “standing wall remodel” development provision to rebuild the structure. The plan has met with near-universal enthusiasm from neighbors, many of whom grew up visiting the “Little Store.”

The Galts will run the store themselves—Suzan has plenty of retail experience. They live nearby and are excited to bring this facility back to the neighborhood. The plan is to stock the store with groceries, “some higher quality products to suit the neighborhood,” says David, “along with basics like milk and bread. It’s going to feel like a country store,” he says. “You’ll be able to come in and get coffee and sit outside on the patio. There will be a deli area for sandwiches, and we’ll also serve hard ice cream. We have heard a lot from the neighbors about what they’d like, and we’re trying to incorporate as much of that as possible.”

Just a block from West Haven Elementary, the store will naturally be a place for neighbors to gather. They’re moving parking off the street to a lot east of the store, with additional parking off 90th, under the building, for employees and tenants of the apartment. They have retained two very large firs on the property. Current plans call for opening sometime next summer.

Conceptual drawing of the completed building

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