Profile on Kevin Clayton, owner of the Shelburne, VT Supermarket

*From the Shelburne News series on residents of Shelburne Vermont, called Among Ourselves

Kevin Clayton is the kind of guy you'd want to have over for a bar-b-que one summer evening when the sun is just about setting, and a cool blanket rolls over Shelburne. He's the kind of guy whose beagle Ellie chases rabbits with the best, but won't come when you call. "My wife Marcela found her three years ago, abandoned in Winooski," says Clayton. "When no one responded to the ad, Ellie became a member of the family."


Shelburne is fortunate to have him part of the Shelburne Supermarket where he and the other co-owners (Steve Clayton & Brad Miller ) watch over fifty employees and some 1000 customers a day. The store specializes in "fine wines and wine finds" and was built in 1967 where Clayton worked until he left at twenty years old to travel. He works at mentoring new employees at the supermarket, many of whom are students taking on their first job. "They are often all closed up when they start working here," says Clayton. "But they blossom through the work here. I try to be there as a respectful adult figure in their lives." His spiritual approach to work also affects his customers who he treats with like friends. "No matter who you are, you're important!" Says Clayton. "Our store is one of the last community centers were people can gather and connect with each other. And I treat them all like family, whether they are a customer, employee or a vendor."


In college he studied Chinese language and East Asian religions where he discovered that when you are in touch with your true self, you use your gifts to help others. These revelations were further cemented in his mind during the time he spent in Maine and New Hampshire, returning some twelve years ago to help build his brother's house. Some of that time was spent at an Ashram in Maine where he learned a form of meditation that affects him today. "It's not so much a religion as it is a practical way to create a life that is truly special." Clayton says. "There's what we do, the things we do for a living. But there is something else that needs to be satisfied; there's always more to know and to feel." His teacher, Maharaji, travels worldwide so Clayton only sees him once or twice a year. One of Maharaji's sayings that Clayton particularly likes is: "Life goes up and down and we need to acknowledge that when the bad times come, you'll get over the bad times. And when the good times come, you'll get over them too!"


Clayton's spiritual approach is reflected in his work life, as he feels there is no separation between self and work. "It makes me aware of something beautiful in myself, and helps me see that in other people," says Clayton. "We are not our thoughts. The core inside is not affected by outer events." He adds that knowing this has helped him see the special gift in every person. Although he was brought up Catholic, he still has doubts that that structured style of religion is workable for him.


Clayton is coming up on his fourth anniversary with wife Marcela Pino, a Spanish and dance teacher at the Gailer School. Of course they met at the Shelburne Supermarket, and soon hit it off thanks to their common interest in meditation. He also spends his spare time picking out a few guitar tunes with Macho Mac and the Meat Packers, who play Folk, Bluegrass, and original music for special functions and charity events. "After playing guitar for some 17 years now, I've decided that I'd like to learn how to write songs," says Clayton. " The world is going so fast," he adds, "and we in our lives are going too fast. We need to slow down to enjoy our life and each other a little more. If we can do that.... just slow down a little, our own lives will become more meaning full and so will the lives of those around us."


If you're looking to find Kevin Clayton, take a walk around the LaPlatte River where you might just find him wandering the tall grasses with Ellie leaping about by his side.

Copyright 2000