By Adele Levine
Becket Country Store owner Ryan Eley is planning a significant expansion designed to provide more goods, services, and gathering space for residents and visitors alike. Eley acquired the long-shuttered property in 2022 and reopened the store at the end of 2023 after extensive renovations.
The project will nearly double the store’s retail floor space by using the building’s full existing footprint. This increase will allow the store to transition into a small grocer, carrying a wider selection of fresh produce, pantry staples, and everyday essentials.
The plans also include a four-season greenhouse addition for retail plants, flowers, and landscaping supplies throughout the year. Beyond retail, the greenhouse will create a year-round “outdoor” patio environment, offering comfortable seating no matter the season.
And since it’s at least a 20-minute ride from Becket to the nearest gas station, Eley plans to install fuel pumps with above-ground storage tanks. “The tanks will incorporate three levels of containment, prioritizing safety, environment, and regulatory compliance,” says Eley. Fuel pumps were previously approved by the Planning Board for the property in May 2011 under a former owner. Nearly fifteen years later, Eley believes the need has only grown—he hears from customers eager for a nearby gas station.
Eley also envisions supporting environmental goals by installing solar panels to offset retail energy consumption and multiple-electric-vehicle fast-charging stations to serve the growing number of EV drivers in the region.
Eley will need the Planning Board’s approval, which he hopes to get at the meeting on April 8th. After that a state review will then be required before a construction permit could be finally issued. If given the go ahead, he plans to begin the project in 2027.
