Eating Rye: Meet Claire Hassi of The Rye Country Store

Eating Rye is an occasional feature to meet the chefs and other professionals in the restaurant kitchens across Rye and neighboring communities. When you dine-in, pick-up or call for delivery, these are the folks working hard for you, your friends & family and your taste buds.

Today meet Claire Hassi, the owner of The Rye Country Store in Rye.

Your Name: Claire Hassi

Your Role: Owner of the Rye Country Store since 1988

The name of your restaurant: Rye Country Store

Describe yourself in one word: Hardworking

MyRye.com: How long have you been the owner at The Rye Country Store?
Hassi: The Rye Country Store has been around since the 1940’s (although it was The Rye Meat Market until 1980)

Previously, where did you work?
Hassi: We are located at 41 Purchase Street. We used to be at 50 Purchase Street (the current location of Bareburger.)

Describe your path to becoming an owner:
Hassi: I started working for the previous owners while I was in college and then bought it when they were ready to retire. About ten years later I bought the building where The Rye Liquor Store was and moved the business across the street. 

Describe your restaurant’s clientele:
Hassi: Our ideal customer is someone who likes good food but does not necessarily have time to cook. We also cater parties so anyone throwing a Dinner party, Birthday party, Shower, Bar Mitzvah and yes funerals and chivas too are ideal customers as well.

Describe the atmosphere of your restaurant: 
Hassi: We like to think of our store as welcoming to all with a friendly staff. People tell us all the time that coming into the store is like “coming home”. People grew up on food from RCS and now we are on the third generation of feeding Rye. 

Describe the physical attributes of your restaurant: 
Hassi: We also have a very diverse supply of party goods, kitchenware, serving ware,  giftware, some toys and activities for kids, candy and chocolate so some people describe the experience as a treasure hunt. You never know what you might find at The Rye Country Store.

Match a recommended meal with a season:
Hassi: Our busiest time of year is from Thanksgiving (the busiest catering day of the year) right straight through until New years .Parties, corporate events, baskets, cookie platters, dinners we do it all!!

What is your favorite dish on the menu and why?
Hassi: Our primary business is prepared food. You can come in and buy dinner for one or for a family or six different items for your family members who all want something different. We have gluten-free items, dairy-free foods, and vegan foods. We can also cater a party for 150 people. We make baked goods the old-fashioned way with real butter, vanilla etc.. We make gift baskets with goodies for the new home owners, the new parents, get well or comfort foods for sympathy baskets. 

Thanks Claire!