LEMOLO — Ty Campbell remembers spending his summers across the street from the Lemolo Market during its glory days, so it was only natural that he be the one to bring it back to life.

“I spent my summers as a kid here and I remember what the market was in its heyday,” Ty said. “Over the years, I watched it go downhill and it made me sad.”

After spending the majority of his professional life opening numerous restaurants and casinos in Montana, Campbell finally returned to his family’s summer home three years ago to care for his dying mother.

During that time, he kept an eye on the market and wondered if someone would step in and make it what it once was. Along the way he met Debbie, who would later become his life partner.

“She’s a retired vice president from Boeing and when the opportunity arose, we decided it would be a neat project for us,” Campbell said.

Once the decision was made to purchase the market, the pair quickly went to work as Debbie spruced up the interior and the market opened in November, he said.

“I haven’t had one person come in here and say there’s something they don’t like,” he said. “They love it.”

The couple’s initial plan was to provide all the things that a neighborhood market should, including groceries, greeting cards and other items that local residents need on a regular basis, he said.

“We said if we’re going to open it, we’re going to do it right,” Campbell said.

In order to preserve the history of the area, Campbell said he has made an effort to collect as many historic photographs of the area as he can and display them throughout the store.

“We’ve got a picture of the Lemolo Tavern, which was three blocks down the street, but many people don’t know was here,” he said.

Longtime residents come in and share stories of the past and Campbell said that’s just one of the things that makes the market such a special place to be.

Customers are encouraged to let the couple know if there’s something that they need or would like to have that’s not at the market and Campbell said he tries to have that product in the next day if at all possible.

“We love the neighborhood and I’ve never had any other business like it,” he said.

In the upcoming weeks, the market will offer kayak and bicycle rentals as people return to their summer homes and visitors tour the area as well, he said.

Eventually, the market will feature a full deli, which was originally slated to open this summer, but now will probably be available sometime in the fall, he said.

Local produce growers have already approached the couple about having a Saturday market at the store and Campbell said those plans are well underway.

And then there’s Debbie’s brownies, which are baked every night, and are often gone shortly after the market opens at 9 a.m.

“I made them when we first opened and some builders came in and bought them all,” Debbie said with a warm smile. “Now they’re here every morning to see if they’re ready and there’s only 10 made each day.”