CAMDEN, Maine — Meg Quijano said she never intended to run a gift shop founded by her grandmother in 1940.
But for the past 35 years, Quijano has carried on the family tradition and is glad she did.
The Smiling Cow, known for its red-and-white striped awning and an open door spanning three-panels wide, celebrated its 75th opening in downtown Camden on April 25.
The Smiling Cow was founded by Quijano’s grandmother, Margaret Hawkey, who moved from New Jersey to Boothbay Harbor in 1929. Hawkey opened a Smiling Cow store in that coastal town as a way to support herself and her five school-aged children, according to a history of the family business provided by Quijano.
The second generation, Quijano’s mother who also was named Margaret, opened The Smiling Cow in Camden in 1940 along with her husband, Henry Fisher. The store was opened in what formerly had been the Lee Lenfest garage.
The Boothbay Harbor store eventually was sold off, but the Camden store remained in the family.
In 1973, The Smiling Cow’s building, resting on stilts directly above the Megunticook River, was declared unsafe and condemned by the town, according to the history outline she provided.
Quijano said her mother recognized the importance of keeping the little building looking the same as the original structure and directed the new one look exactly the same. Everything was torn down and rebuilt, with the exception of the front wall, which was included in the new structure. Internal fixtures and fittings were reused and reinstalled.
She said when customers returned the next spring, many didn’t even realize they were in a brand new building.
Quijano said her first job was working at the store as a child.
“I couldn’t wait to get out and about,” she said. “This (working at store) was not something I ever envisioned doing.”
Quijano moved out of state as an adult but returned with her two children in 1974, planning only to stay for the summer. Her father died that fall, and she learned her mother was thinking about selling the store.
That is when Quijano decided to make the leap. She worked with her mother for three years and learned to how to run the business and make the buying trips.
Quijano bought the store in 1980. Her mother died five months later.
The longtime Camden businesswoman said she is pleased with her decision to continue the family business.
The store is open from April through early November. The gift shop closes each winter, which Quijano said allows her time to recharge her batteries.
Her store primarily sells Maine-made products. T-shirts, books and cards are top sellers, she said. Each year, she and her husband, Paul, spend the winters looking for new products.
One offering that has remained is the fudge. The fudge is made in the store and includes penuche, blueberry, chocolate, maple and peanut butter.
One customer favorite, she said, is the back deck, which is perched over the Megunticook River with views of Camden Harbor. She said husbands often will sit out there enjoying a coffee and talking with other customers while waiting for the wives who are shopping.
The store has loyal customers who return to the store each year, she said. The third-generation owner said she also uses social media, and The Smiling Cow has an online store at the company’s website. The store also has a Facebook page.
In addition to longtime customers, The Smiling Cow also has longtime employees. Claire Frye, 83, a former executive director of the local chamber of commerce, has worked at The Smiling Cow for more than 20 years. Another longtime employee is Kristy McKenney, who started at the store when she was 14 years old and will be celebrating her 40th birthday this year.
Quijano has been active in the community, having served on various town committees and has been a member of the local chamber for years, including a stint as its president.
As for the future of the store, Quijano said she has no plans to retire. Her daughter lives in Rhode Island. Her daughter’s youngest child is in junior high, so Quijano said there is a possibility another generation could continue The Smiling Cow tradition.