By RICK MILLER
Olean Times Herald
PORTVILLE — Lines stretched outside Cummins Cider Mill when it reopened Wednesday after a six-year hiatus.
The parking lot in front of the iconic cider mill was still full Wednesday afternoon with cars parked along Route 417.
And people were still waiting outside the door. The line wound through the store to the donut cases where people ordered their favorite donuts and a container of sweet, fresh-pressed cider.
Martha Foster lives right down Route 417 — Portville-Obi Road. She drove by shortly after Cummins opened at 9 a.m. and decided it was so crowded she’d return later.
Her kids grew up coming here, Foster said. They would get a drink of cider when they came.
Her daughter who now lives in Little Valley heard about the cider mill reopening and asked her mother to be sure to pick her up some donuts. “The best are the Long Johns with angel cream,” Foster said.
“It’s also important to be behind local businesses,” Foster added.
Duane Demming and his mother Pat Crooks drove top Portville from Bradford, Pa., when they heard Cummins was reopening this year.
“We’re so happy it opened back up,” Crooks said of the cider mill.
Demming was carrying a plastic jug of cider as well as some donuts. Some of the donuts may not make it back to Bradford, she agreed.
There was a three-car accident on Portville-Obi Road across from the cider mill about 8 a.m. Wednesday, before the cider mill opened. The parking lot was crowded and people were lining up to get the store opened.
Going forward, regular hours will be 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily.
In a Facebook posting on Tuesday, Cummins Cider Mill welcomed back customers, thanking them for their support. “After being closed the past several years, it was nice to come back and have a supportive community! We can’t do any of this without you all! We look forward to seeing you all and appreciate your support.”
The cider mill is still looking for employees. Those who are interested should apply in person and fill out an application.
Also on Facebook, customers wrote about their favorite donuts and how happy they were to have the cider mill reopen.
