About half a year since opening Market 27 at 475 Gardiner Road, Wiscasset, the owners said they continue to go with what their customers want and the business is doing excellent. They announced Tuesday morning, by the end of this year, they plan to replace the 5,200-square-foot building with an 8,000-square foot one further back on the lot, and have eight gas pumps and two diesel pumps.

“This will be for Wiscasset,” the town they like to be in and that has supported them, Shawn Zaman said.

He and his son-in-law, fellow India-born, longtime Brooklyn, New York resident MD Kazi Abdin, moved to Wiscasset years ago. “When I came here, I really liked Wiscasset. And after that we got a lot of friends who were here,” Kazi Abdin said. “And finally I saw this (business) went on the market. And everything looked perfect for us as a family business.”

Kazi Abdin and Shawn Zaman said they worked at Wiscasset Quik Stop, also on Route 27 or Gardiner Road, before buying the former Maxwell’s Market, once Mike’s Log Cabin, last summer.

They said customers asked them to sell gas. What people want must be the first priority, they said.  It will not be the family’s first time selling gas. They once leased a gas station in Ocala, Florida. Florida was nice to visit but was too different from Wiscasset, they said. 

How’s business? Way better than they expected to start out, Shawn Zaman said. “Business is doing excellent, there’s no doubt.” They may add more staff this year. In the meantime, putting in 12-hour shifts is challenging, hard work, he said. “I do it to establish the business ... And I’m glad to be back to Wiscasset,” he added. “I have a very good relationship with the community and am glad I made it back here.” The community has shown support, “and I so much appreciate that.”

The business is open Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Shawn Zaman said the store’s large menu includes pizza, subs and more, plus the business has specials including chicken curry and other Indian food. For more, visit Market 27 on Facebook or call 882-4101.