WILLIAMSBURG — Locally-sourced products and seasonal specials are typical Facebook posts for Williamsburg Market, the privately-owned grocery store in the heart of town. Typically, these posts receive a comment or two and a handful of likes.
But when the market announced in a post on Sunday that the store would pause operations for less than two hours on Saturday morning in solidarity with the town’s No Kings 3 rally, the decision resulted in an uproar of comments.
In the 49 comments made before the page’s moderator disabled the comment section, some people expressed concern that the decision blends politics and business, while others said they don’t plan to return to the store. Meanwhile, just as many people lauded the move.
People also took to another Facebook site, All Things Williamsburg, to share their thoughts, with one stating her “utter disgust” at seeing signs announcing the decision, adding that owners should be “ashamed because you have not respected the majority of the people who have supported you.”
“Politics and business should never mix. It creates tension outside and within,” one post at the market’s Facebook page said. Another said, “No business should show their political support like this. Truly sad post to see. Lost a lot of respect for you guys.” And a third poster said, “Not OK for a business … Now we all know! I will not shop there anymore.”
Even a Williamsburg Market employee, Diana Ruperto Szewczyk, expressed her dissatisfaction online, noting that she had shared her concerns with management when employees were notified last week.
“I just want to let you all know that there are seven of us full time employees who don’t agree with this,” she wrote. “I’m not saying don’t go to the rally. Go, it’s your right. Just don’t close a place of business for a political stand. It’s not good business. There are enough employees to work if some choose to go and rally.”
Just as many comments supported the business, with people saying they were proud to have the market in their community.
“I did not think I could love Williamsburg Market more than I already do but here I am! I’m a big fan of our constitution,” one post read. Another said, “In this day and age, NOW we need more than ever businesses to PUSH out, SPEAK out, and STAND up against a bully …”
Despite the division online, store co-owner Steve Smith said he has heard positive in-person feedback. He explained that the gesture to close down is not a partisan statement, but rather a show of support for the Constitution and the right to due process.
“We’re not trying to be divisive, but we do feel this is important,” said Smith.
The Williamsburg rally, which will take place from 9:30 to 11 a.m. outside town offices, will be one of more than 3,000 events across the country on Saturday. It is also the third No Kings standout nationally since President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2025.
Smith also said the online post and a sign in the front window of the Williamsburg Market were updated to say, “This does not necessarily reflect the views of all employees.”
Next door at Tangle Chocolate, Suzanne Forman also decided to close down as a show of support for the rally. Her decision hasn’t received any of the negative comments that Williamsburg Market has.
She was surprised by the attention the market’s post had attracted.
“To me, it’s a patriotic thing to do. It’s about supporting the values that our country was founded on, the Constitution that has been the bedrock of our whole legal system,” she said. “We have such a small voice in this small little community, and I really don’t see how doing something that supports our Constitution could be seen as divisive. I just fail to see how anyone could object to that.”
Patrons shopping at the two shops on Monday morning also had no objections.
“I’m fully supportive of the closing,” said Haydenville resident Anne Hillam, adding that she’ll frequent the store even more now. “They run their own business.”
Hillam also said that in the past bakers have turned down making cakes for gay weddings based on their belief systems about marriage. “What’s the difference?” she asked.
Collin Black of Williamsburg and Jim Wagner of Cummington were chatting outside the market. They saw no problem with the businesses choosing to voice their political opinions.
“You don’t have to agree with people’s public speech, but I really think that it’s really important to speak your mind if it’s an intelligent point and not based on some form of bigotry,” said Black. “It’s hard when your neighbor’s pigs get into your garden, but you also have to recognize your neighbors are human beings.”
“Politics is business,” said David Brown, a Chicopee resident having a relaxed morning at Tangle. “If people say you can’t combine the two, it’s ridiculous … If it wasn’t for politics, the oil business wouldn’t be what it is now.”
