A modest plaque near the entrance of Jerry’s Post Road Market says it all: Established 1937.

 

By Jon Craig

 

A modest plaque near the entrance of Jerry’s Post Road Market says it all: Established 1937.

 

A tradition of tasty fare and friendly service predates Jerry and Martha McGuire, but the family business lives on. This second generation of McGuires will mark their 40th anniversary of operating the Post Road Market next year. Jerry’s Market has operated out of a larger, newer building that replaced his parents’ home and original store in 2005.

 

The newer market also replaced Peck’s Bicycle Store and a Stationery Store, at a time when Rye had lost its last chain grocer, A&P. A Wine & Spirits shop was added at the southern end of the 1000 Boston Post Road property.

 

Founded by Jerry and Marie McGuire, the market may now be best known for its Irish soda bread and homemade donuts. And, if you get there later than 10 a.m., you’re out of luck landing any of the classic oatmeal with milk and toppings. But no worries: The store also offers plenty of deli specials dreamed up by staff that has traditionally included other family members.

 

Linda Kirby, a niece, currently bakes the ever-popular Irish soda bread from the founders’ recipe. Michael Fitzgerald, a nephew, also works there. A grandson, Thomas Hickey, was in the store this week lobbying for a summer job.

 

Jerry said his parents opened the business on a formerly condemned property. They’d buy loaves of bread from other Rye markets and tack a penny onto the sale price to make a tiny profit. The market has since made its mark selling groceries, prepared food, and grilled or deli sandwiches.

 

“My dad initially didn’t have any hot food or breakfast sandwiches,’’ Jerry said. A steam table was added in the 1960s to fry eggs. Homemade salads became popular around the same time.

 

After the younger Jerry got out of the Air Force in 1974, he and Martha took over operation of the market, expanding its grocery offerings, specialty sausages like bangers, frozen bread from Ireland, and catering in the summer months.

 

“There are so many memories,’’ Martha said. “It’s a memory in itself.”