There’ s a quaint appeal about Count r y Store located in Richmond, Llandovery , St Ann. It’s the k ind of lure that forced Thursday Life, a few Sundays ago, to pull over .

We’ re glad we did! Lee Issa, chairman of Couples Resorts and president of the Negril Chamber of Commerce, has without a doubt raised the bar on what is defined as rural township. The 7,000-foot Country Store, which opened its doors on May 22, 2015, was built at a cost of J$75 million, and, according to Issa, “for the residents of Richmond as they had been promised a township.

This combination of supermarket deli and pharmacy is to fulfil that commitment and to attract those in the nearby communities”. There are, too, people like us from Kingston and let’s not forget those from Montego Bay who need a convenient and comfortable halfway stop. What’s unique about Country Store supermarket and deli, according to general manager Janet Vaz, are the warm and friendly staff and comprehensive array of products.

“We want everyone to feel at home in our ‘country’ atmosphere — a home away from home. Our landscaping and beautiful environment have created an oasis that is unique.” A walk through the well-laid-out store lends credence to this.

The deli is our first stop for coffee. It’s Sunday so there’s a traditional lunch as well as juices and wines, perfect accompaniments for deli sandwiches, croissants, bagels, sliced meats and cheeses, quiches, lasagne cakes and pastries. The deli unveils yet another delicious treat… Jing Shi breads — ciabatta, French baguettes, sesame rolls and croissants. Perfect for the extensive range of wines available.

There’s more, we glean: a pharmacy and a delivery service as far as Jamaica Beach on the eastern side and to Braco, Trelawny in the west — free for all orders over $5,000.

Residents of Le Palms at Richmond, of which 50 per cent are Jamaicans from the diaspora, can walk, cycle or drive from their gated community to Country Store. Life has just got a whole lot better on the north coast. Little wonder, really, that Issa’s next plan is a medical centre.

— NMW