Lily’s Weston Market opens, filling grocery store void with ‘sense of home’
WESTON — After more than a year without a grocery store, the town of Weston finally has a new one.
Lily’s Weston Market opened May 14, and according to proprietors Mark McWhirter, Jay Stasko and DJ Hall, business is booming.
“It being the only grocery store in the town of Weston, it’s the hub of the community,” Stasko said. “People are grateful to be back and bumping into their neighbors. Their commute has cut down drastically, and now they’re buying their dinners one meal at a time.”
Lily’s Weston Market replaced Peter’s Weston Market, which was the sole grocery store that operated in Weston from 1972 until it closed at the end of January 2021. Though in the same location, Lily’s is very different — from the interior itself to what is offered.
From a design standpoint, Stasko said they removed everything from the former location. Renovations included removing four layers of floor, down to the cement, adding new plumbing underneath the cement, installing new fixtures, putting in a new floor and ceiling, and adding new walk-in freezers.
“I am thrilled that Lily’s has opened and that this grocery store can serve our community,” First Selectwoman Samantha Nestor said. “I am especially impressed with the team’s renovation of the facilities, quality of product and deep roots in the community.”
The owners are no strangers to the market.
Hall worked at Peter’s for 22 years and Stasko for about 10 years. McWhirter and Stasko met while Stasko worked for a local restaurant, and they have been friends ever since.
Stasko said he “pulled him out of retirement,” deciding to take over the closed business together, alongside Hall.
“I started in the deli, and now I’m an owner,” Hall said. “I’ve seen kids grow up from 4 years old to 21 now… even longer.”
And the name change? Stasko’s teenage daughter is named Lily, though the other proprietors said they each have a connection to someone named Lily.
The process of securing Lily’s Weston Market began after Peter’s closed. Stasko said he knew how important this market was to the town of Weston.
“It’s the only grocery store I’ve ever wanted,” Stasko said. “And when I had the opportunity to execute the lease, [it was] a dream come true.”
Hall also said the business still has a small-town feel, though the market has expanded.
According to McWhirter, Lily’s is different than other grocery stores, as it has extensive produce, restaurant-quality food and fullservice counters, among other items. All the prepared food is cooked from scratch by professional chefs.
“This is a more food-driven business,” Stasko said. “We’ve doubled our size and prepared grab-and-go foods. We’ve eliminated the bakery and added more upscale, gourmet, pre-cooked food for people to take home and heat up.”
The grab-and-go foods are some of the most popular offerings at Lily’s, with some customers coming multiple times per day to get it.
McWhirter said that one customer told him, “I don’t have to turn my oven on until Thanksgiving.”
And now that the business has been operating for about a month, McWhirter said he would “characterize it as off-the-charts.”
He also said they have had great business every day since opening, even on the slower days.
However, the opening took longer than expected. The proprietors signed the lease around the end of July 2021 but didn’t open until nearly a year later. Hall said everything they ordered took months to come in, from convection ovens to automatic doors.
“Everything they tell you about COVID and shipping is all true,” Hall said about the delays.
McWhirter said Weston residents aren’t the only ones who frequent Lily’s, but also residents from Westport and Wilton, as some parts of those towns are closer to their market than other grocery stores.
Stasko also said that their market is bringing people to the center of town, which helps support the other businesses there.
“There had been a hole in the community by not having easy access to groceries and a pharmacy,” Nestor said. “Now town center is complete with a grocery store, pharmacy, liquor store, restaurant, gym, bank and real estate broker all in residence.”
Nestor also said she hopes the entire community supports the other small businesses in Weston.
Stasko said owning the business means a lot to him. He graduated from Weston High School and his first job, at 16, was working at Peter’s Weston Market. He also came back as a store manager after college for a few years.
“I’m grateful to come back full-circle to this lovely town,” Stasko said. “I care a lot about it ... It really has a community feel and everybody knows each other’s name.”
Nestor also commented on the community feel.
“I love going to Lily’s, not just for the prepared food and produce, but also because I get to see so many neighbors and friends there,” she said. “It’s another community hub in our small town.”
McWhirter said they have had an “overwhelming response” from customers.
Many have thanked them for opening the place again.
In the future, they hope to grow their catering business, though they’re already catering about three to five orders per week.
They also hope that future generations of their families take over the business. “It really is a family business. The three families have joined,” Stasko said.
“I’m hoping that the town feels a sense of home when they shop here,” McWhirter said.