Historic Round Hill Landmark Changes Hands after 111 Years of Strain Family Ownership

After more than a century in the hands of the Strain family, the historic Round Hill Store/Round Hill Service Station property has changed ownership, marking a significant transition for two longtime fixtures of Greenwich’s backcountry community.

The property has been acquired by Chuck Royce and his family, residents known throughout Greenwich for their long history of supporting community-focused ventures as well as the Brumberg Family, longtime supporters of local charities who are raising their young family in the neighborhood. The new owners purchased the property in the name of the Round Hill Preservation Society. They plan to continue operating both the store and service station for the foreseeable future while thoughtfully considering their
next chapter.

 

The change in ownership is particularly noteworthy given the property’s remarkable history.

Established in 1801, the Round Hill Store has served the community for 225 years and is believed to be the oldest continuously operating retail business in Connecticut. During that time, it has had only three ownership groups. Royce and Brumberg become the fourth.

Originally located on the southwest corner of Round Hill and Old Mill roads, the store served as a stagecoach stop and, from 1830 to 1901, as the local post office. The building was later moved across the street to its present location, where it faces west.

Among the store’s historic treasures are handwritten bookkeeping journals dating to 1861, during the Civil War. The journals offer a glimpse into everyday life in 19th-century Round Hill, recording customers’ household accounts, individual purchases and the prices paid for goods.

In 1915, William Strain purchased the store, beginning 111 years of ownership and operation by four generations of the Strain family. As transportation and the needs of the community evolved, the Round Hill Service Station and an oil delivery business were added.

Most recently the property was owned by five sisters, all great- granddaughters of William Strain. The store and service station operate as separate businesses. Robin Strain Vanacore runs the Round Hill Store, while Sandy Strain Regan and her brother-in-law, John Wood, operate the service station.

Over the decades, both businesses have become much more than places to pick up groceries or have a car repaired. They are informal gathering places where neighbors catch up, exchange local news and stay connected to the issues and activities in backcountry Greenwich.

The store welcomes a cross-section of the community each day, from landscapers and tradespeople stopping for coffee and something from the deli to neighbors picking up household necessities, bicyclists taking a break and visitors passing through the area.

Next door, the service station has built a similarly loyal following, caring for everything from vintage automobiles to new cars, foreign and domestic, and handling repairs both large and small. Generations of customers have come to rely on its personal service, expertise and willingness to tackle even the most challenging automotive problems.

For the Strain family, the sale closes an extraordinary 111-year chapter in the history of a family business deeply woven into the fabric of Round Hill.

For the community, however, it also marks the beginning of a new chapter. Robin Vanacore, one of the five sisters and the operator of the Round Hill

Store said,” After having served the Round Hill community for over one century it is bittersweet for the Strain heirs to bestow this corner treasure to another lover of this historic property. We are thrilled that the Round Hill Preservation Society will be the new stewards of this significant location, a Round Hill landmark since 1801. The store will continue to operate under its current management and we look forward to continuing our community relationship.”

When asked about the future of the store and station Royce said, “I want to hear from the community about what they want, what they need and what will work best for them.”

“It is important that we do our best to continue operations and build upon what the Strain family has built for generations,” Brumberg added.

As ownership changes hands, the Round Hill Store and Service Station remain what they have been for generations: familiar landmarks at a historic crossroads and enduring gathering places in the heart of Greenwich’s backcountry.

“As we express our heartfelt appreciation for the generations of care and dedication that have sustained the Round Hill Store and Round Hill Service Station, we welcome its next chapter with great enthusiasm and excitement for what lies ahead,” said Brendon DeSimone, President of the Round Hill Association, a local neighborhood group founded in 1942.