G&J Bottle Redemption in Boothbay will close March 15, after 19 years in business.

Owner Janet Fairfield said she and her husband Gary are sad to be closing their business, but the building it’s in was recently purchased, and Pharmer’s Market, which has been in the space beside the redemption center, will be taking over use of the building.

“It’s been kind of emotional, especially with some of the older people who have been coming for years,” Fairfield said. The couple started in the redemption business in Wiscasset, on Foye Road. Fairfield said many from the Boothbay community traveled there, before the business moved to Boothbay.

“We’re one of the oldest redemption businesses around,” she said. “We found out there was a need for it in this area.”

Fairfield said a lot of people have asked if she and Gary are retiring. “But I’m not old enough to retire, so I’m back on the job market.

“We’ve been looking for another spot, and we’ve had people, some of our customers, looking for us and throwing ideas our way, but places have been too small, or just wouldn’t fly for one reason or another.”

G&J has also offered a pick-up service for some restaurants and other businesses, and some people who weren’t able to get to the redemption center. Fairfield said they will probably continue with the pick-up service for some organizations while they continue to hope to find a new space in the Boothbay area. Meanwhile, she’s job-hunting. “People keep saying, ‘Don’t give up,’ but it’s hard not to, and I’ve got to have an income.

“But we’re really thankful to all the local people who’ve supported us over the past 19 years, and Trish Mcglauflin and her sister Rose Hodgdon were wonderful employees.”

According to Darrell Gudroe, part owner of Pharmer’s Market, the building’s new owner is a 40-year East Boothbay resident. Gudroe said Pharmer’s Market will begin expanding shortly after the bottle redemption business moves out.

The area where the storefront is now will become a commercial kitchen for processing marijuana-based edibles, tinctures and oils. The remainder of the building will be a garden for growing the plants.

“We’re already licensed to grow it there, we just haven’t renovated the space to do it in yet.” The business is allowed to grow 30 plants. The ceilings are 10.5 feet high.

A new educational venue will be added to the business, too. “When you come into the retail store, the processing room and the trimming room will be visible as viewing rooms. If I’m in there in a lab coat trimming plants extracting cannabis oil, people will be able to watch and see how it works.”