When you go through the door into Ames True Value in Wiscasset, if one of the owners happens to be walking by, you'll get a greeting and a smile. If that particular owner happens to be Jeff Averill, the greeting will likely be “Hello, young lady,” or “Hello, young man,” regardless of your age.

Those three words, to a 60- or 80-year-old woman or man, can make a big difference in his or her general outlook for the day.

The 50,000-square-foot space has an overwhelming display of merchandise geared toward making almost every aspect of day-to-day life easier, healthier and more fun, for you, your kids, your horses, dogs, cats and guinea pigs, the birds in your yard ... the list goes on.

Every family member and employee who works at Ames appears to be enthusiastic about his or her job. And that makes for a very pleasant shopping experience for both employees and patrons.

When Ames first opened its doors, it was just a grain store, located next to the railroad tracks behind Red's Eats. Grain was delivered to the store by train. The owners, Dan and Dot Ames, were the grandparents of the present owners, brothers Wayne, Jeff and Steve Averill.

A June 1969 fire destroyed the building. The family set up a new store nearby, and eventually built a new, much larger building on Route One, just north of where the business is now.

In a recent interview, Wayne Averill said that as the business and inventory continued to grow, in 2005 the need for more space led to the building of the present store.

Now four generations strong, Ames True Value is a family affair. Dan and Dot Ames' daughter, Arlene Steen, better known as Gram, works in the store along with her three sons, the Averill brothers. And then there’s Wayne's wife Peggy, their son, Sumner and daughter Audrey Blagdon, Jeff's son, Mike, and Steve's son, Dan, and daughter, Laura Lynch.

Along with all those family members, there are about 20 other employees, each considered a part of the family. Jeff Averill said he appreciates every one of them for what they bring to the business. And the feeling is mutual.

Part-time employee Bill Frenier said he loves working there. “I was lucky. The boss's wife was my secretary for 15 years, so I had an in when I retired.”

“It's like working at Cheers without the beer,” another part-time employee, Dick Zieg, said. “And everybody is amazed at how much stuff we sell.”

Marie Pierce works at Ames four days a week. On Jan. 19, she had recently finished her treatments for breast cancer. “I've had family illnesses, and they've seen me through thick and thin,” she said. “Everybody here has supported me. Everybody is like a family. You could never in your life ask for any better people to work for. They treat us all like family.”

And in keeping with the family theme, Ames holds an annual Father's Day picnic and a Mother’s Day brunch. Last year’s Father’s Day event drew around 500 people.

The amount and the quality of the inventory are mind-boggling.  Ames takes pride in offering top of the line, well-made products, inside and out.

There's an endless pet supply department, and seed and grains are sold in bulk. “It's something most stores have stopped, but people seem to like it, so we do it,” Wayne Averill said.

Come spring, you'll find a line of quality handmade single and double Adirondack-style chairs, and picnic tables, made by Sumner Averill.

Sarah Morley recently shared a story about Jeff Averill: “One day when I was at Ames a father and his young son came in. The boy had $25 in his pocket and was smiling from ear to ear. Jeff asked him what he was up to, and the boy said it was his birthday and he was going to buy a pocket knife. Jeff took him over to the display and asked which was his favorite. The boy was trying to see the price tags. Jeff said to just tell him which one he liked best. The boy picked one out, looked at the price, and put it back. Jeff handed it back to him and said, “Give me your $25 and we’re good.”

With that kind of humanitarianism, and the endless array of hardware, tools, and automotive, plumbing, cleaning, electrical, fishing, storage, hunting, lawn and garden and building supplies, along with services like blade and chain saw sharpening, glass cutting, key cutting, and small engine repair, along with countless other supplies and services, it’s really no wonder the store is usually hopping with activity. Even the customers’ dogs like it there.