One of the oldest and most popular businesses in town, Shubie’s plans to celebrate its 75th anniversary with a special weekend Dec. 16-17.
Louis and Ida Shube, Russian immigrants, opened a small supermarket in the 1920s at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Commercial Street. In 1927, they moved across the street to where CVS is now.
The rest, as they say, is history.
“My grandfather Bill bought a liquor license and opened in the back of 45 Atlantic,” Shubie’s General Manager Doug Shube told the Current. “It was only 500 square feet. Today’s version of Shubie’s is the descendant of that liquor store.”
Bill Shube passed away in 1969 and his wife ran the business for a few years.
“Then my dad, George, came home from college and took it over.” George renamed it Shubie’s (his nickname) and they moved again, across the street to 32 Atlantic.
“In 1994, my mom [Carol] got more involved and brought in specialty grocery items, imported cheeses. That’s when we got our first executive chef,” Doug said.
“We started with a hot plate, believe it or not,” he laughed.
Finally, in 2005, Shubie’s moved to its current location at 16 Atlantic. It just recently underwent a renovation.
Despite all its iterations, the shop has always felt like home to Doug.
“I remember being in the store from an early age,” he said. “The store I grew up in was 32 Atlantic. I remember being behind the counter and pushing the big green button to open the register. I definitely grew up in the business.”
Doug says the Shube family feels a special connection to the Marblehead.
“My parents and I talk about that a lot,” he said. “We feel so fortunate. Especially when we moved to the current location, my parents wanted the store to become this community gathering place, and that really happened when we introduced the food bar. “
When asked what, if any plans, the family has for the next 75 years at Shubie’s, Doug shared that a second store might be a possibility.
“I’d love to see if we can create something special and bring it to another community, maybe somewhere else on the North Shore.”
One thing is certain: The Shubes will always run Shubie’s.
“It has to stay in the family,” Doug said. “My dad’s been working here for 46 years, running the store. He loves it.”
On Dec 16-17, Shubie’s will celebrate its 75th with 20% of all gifts and specialty foods. On Saturday, 1-4 p.m., there will be tastings of wine, bourbon, Ugandan spirits and ice cream.
