Jam bubbling into yummy second year

SHARON — Nestled into a quiet corner of the central business district, Jam foods has quietly built up a devoted clientele and shown that a bad economy doesn’t automatically doom a new business to failure.

Chef-owners Lee Kennedy and Alex Elliott celebrated the shop’s first birthday with a party Saturday Jan. 23. Forget birthday cake and pizza; this gathering had cocktails and smoked salmon, white wine in stemmed glassware and platters of enticing edibles.

The party wasn’t held in the shop itself (which was open for business, anyway). Jam is in a tiny little space that now boasts a sandwich bar, coffee bar and expanded (and easier to view) display cases. A year ago, there were two sandwiches offered each day. Now, diners can come in and select from a menu of about a half-dozen combinations. Two soups a day are also offered (often, one is a chili). Coffee from Barrington Roasters is available for afternoon perkups, or for anyone seeking their first cup of Joe after 10 a.m.

The store’s hours have also been expanded, and the shop is now open seven days a week.

All these small adjustments have helped establish Jam as a long-term feature of the town’s business landscape. But, when asked what her most popular item is, Kennedy immediately answers: the frozen takeout entrees.

A well-known local caterer, Kennedy offers an assortment of meals to go each day as well as more refined nibbles, for hostesses.

Although Kennedy and Elliott (a French-trained chef who has cooked at Guido’s in Great Barrington as well as at several Paris restaurants) have long had a successful catering operation, their first foray into retail was at Trotta’s Market in Sharon. They sold packaged meals in one of the refrigerated cases in the back of the store.

Trotta’s closed down in December 2008, just weeks before Jam opened. Perhaps the loss of the town’s only grocery store contributed to Jam’s success, but their wares are almost diametrically different from each other. Jam doesn’t exactly sell staple foods — although it is possible to leave the store with an armload of bread, butter, eggs and cheese.

The stock on the shelves and in the refrigerator cases changes all the time. For shoppers, this means that it’s always fun to come in and browse. It also means that Kennedy and Elliott are paying attention to what their clients want and are adapting the store’s stock to meet those needs and desires.  This bodes well for the future — and to an even bigger birthday party next year.

To receive the weekly Jam newsletter, send an e-mail to jamfoodshop@gmail.com. The store is on Calkinstown Road, across from the filling station and the former motor lodge. The phone number is 860-364-5859.