The Peru Gazette

NY Forward project will include expanded footprint for a new cafe, expanded bulk/produce area and four renovated apartments 

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Empire State Development and the New York Department of State today announced the start of construction on a $662,000 expansion and rehabilitation project at Nature’s Storehouse, a full-service natural food store, in Canton. Supported by the state’s NY Forward program, the project will create a seamless floor plan that integrates Nature Storehouse’s current 21 Main Street location with an adjacent historic building at 19 Main Street, adding a new cafe with table seating for customers as well as expanded retail space throughout. Nature’s Storehouse owners Clark and Yen Maine were awarded a $497,000 NY Forward grant in 2025 to facilitate the project, which will complement the store’s long-standing natural food and supplement business.

“The expansion of Nature’s Storehouse serves as a cornerstone of the NY Forward revitalization initiative in Canton and will demonstrate how targeted investments can breathe new life into our rural downtowns,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight. “By modernizing these historic buildings to include both a vibrant new cafe and much-needed residential units, Clark and Yen Maine are helping to create a more resilient, healthy and walkable community. Empire State Development is proud to support small businesses that anchor our downtowns and drive local economic growth.”

“This expansion represents the kind of community-driven investment NY Forward is designed to support,” said New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “By breathing new life into historic buildings; expanding access to healthy, locally sourced foods; and adding new residential and gathering spaces, this project will strengthen the vitality of downtown while deepening Canton’s connection to the North Country. Investments like this not only support small businesses and local producers, but also help create more vibrant, walkable communities where residents and visitors alike can live, work and thrive.”

“Nature’s Storehouse is driven by a purpose to nurture a healthier, more sustainable North Country,” said Nature’s Storehouse Owners Clark and Yen Maine. “The development of Nature’s Café is a pivotal step toward our ‘Vision 2028’ of becoming the region’s premier health and wellness hub.”

The project removes a party wall between the two historic storefronts; adds ADA-compliant front and rear entrances; modernizes building systems and commercial equipment; constructs the sit-down cafe and expanded bulk/produce area; rehabilitates four upper-story apartments; and restores facades, masonry, signage and energy-efficient windows.

After four years abroad, Clark and Yen Maine returned to their North Country roots in 2022 to raise their family and lead the next chapter of their family business, Adirondack Fragrance and Flavor Farm.  Clark, who grew up in Parishville, and Yen, a Taiwan native currently working toward her U.S. citizenship, share a deep commitment to giving back to the region.  In 2023, the couple solidified their investment in the community’s future by acquiring two landmark local enterprises: Adirondack Fragrance & Flavor Farm and Nature’s Storehouse.

Since 1972, Nature’s Storehouse has welcomed friends, neighbors, students and tourists alike, providing quality natural, local and organic goods. By doubling its footprint, the Maines are not only preserving a historic structure but also expanding vital access to local organic foods and wellness products. This growth allows Nature’s Storehouse to strengthen partnerships with dozens of North Country farmers and producers, fostering a more resilient local food system and creating new jobs in St. Lawrence County. While Nature’s Storehouse has offered vegetarian takeout for years, the new cafe will provide a dedicated space for made-to-order meals, specialty drinks and indoor seating.

In addition to the Nature’s Storehouse project, the five Canton NY Forward projects, totaling $4.5 million, include:

• Revitalize the Former Midtown Plaza to Create a Mixed-Use Space ($2,000,000): Redevelop the former Midtown Plaza into a mixed-use space that provides housing, an entrepreneurship center and community amenities.
• Upgrade Park Amenities in the Village Green to Enhance Community Space ($1,096,000): Upgrade Village Green with improved pathways, lighting, seating, and diverse plantings to create an inviting year-round space while maintaining the park’s historic character.
• Transform 11 – 11 ½ Riverside Drive into a Commercial Fitness Hub ($807,000): Transform the partially vacant building at 11 and 11 ½ Riverside Drive into a commercial fitness center and studio space to provide health and wellness opportunities to the community and boost downtown business activity.
• Upgrade the TAUNY Center to Offer Improved Art and Cultural Experiences ($100,000): Upgrade the TAUNY Center with renovations to the building’s facade and interior to improve accessibility and functionality.

The Village of Canton, home to an historic downtown area and crossroads connecting the St. Lawrence River Valley, was named a NY Forward Round 2 winner for the North Country in 2024. The projects will help generate a regional destination centered around diverse housing options; art and cultural attractions; variety of local businesses; and recreational offerings. Other NY Forward winners in the North Country include Cape Vincent, Lyons Falls, Waddington, Alexandria Bay, Gouverneur and Keeseville.