Sad day for Local Grocery and Local Butcher in Forest Park Illinois.

[troymeister]

My Favorite local Grocery Store is closing. Ed and son Mike have been serving our town since 1991 and the previous owner since the early 60's. The Owner Ed is 87 and has been in the Grocery Business since he started at the A&P on Madison St near Pulaski in Chicago when he was 14 years old. That would be 73 years in the Business.

I bought my house in the neighborhood specifically because the grocery store was 2 blocks away and I could walk there in case may car was on the blink. Many people who live nearby do not have cars. As a matter of fact, the neighborhood was a fewer car neighborhood because of local industry and 2 El Trains serving Downtown Chicago. Ed was delivering groceries before most people could say Instacart.

John the Butcher there has been a blessing to my family. He has taken special orders, thawed our Thanksgiving Turkey in their Walk in cooler, always knows what we like and would cut it special.

When there was bad flooding and bad storms and electricity was out on the main drag (Madison St.) Ed let all of the local restaurants and Ice Cream Shop put their product in his walk in cooler and freezer so they didn't lose it. During all of the heavy snow storms and bad weather, Ed was open, serving the community.

When I was sick with Pneumonia years ago, When I was sick with Covid recently, they delivered my groceries and said pay us when you can.

Most of the meals and meats you have seen on SUWYC have been from this wonderful store.

I am saddened that my whole lifestyle has to change. I normally just stop there and get what I need that day. No planning ahead, no lists, just get what you need, no lines, no hassle...It might take longer shooting the breeze with staff and customers than actual shopping.

I have even seen Meathead there once or twice a few years back.

The store is one of the last of its kind. I am saddened to see it go.

Also, at least 3 Feature Films were shot on location there. One starred Talia Shire.

[MsTwiggy]

My condolences 💐 it’s nice to hear that it’s because he retired instead of because the store wasn’t busy enough. My neighborhood QFC closed to save money for corporate. It was a great store and the only thing close. Now I drive north to Shoreline to grocery shop because it’s faster to get on I5 than cut through Seattle. 🔥🔥🐿️

[RonB]

That's tough - my condolences.

[jfmorris]

Sorry to hear this. That’s the way most successful small businesses tend to end - I.e. when the owner decides to retire, and the kids aren’t interested or capable of running it.

My dad ran a successful multimillion dollar medium sized manufacturing business for 40 years, and the owners were hands off, and their kids just wanted money. Within 2 years of my dad retiring, the 50 year old business was closed, and the assets auctioned off.

[SheilaAnn]

Wow! I’ve heard of this market, but never been. Their attention to the guests is what I used to drive home when I owned a butcher shop (part owner, y’all know the story). Sending well wishes…..

[DavidNorcross]

Sorry to hear this. We have a local store and I worry about the same happening. The owner is getting older and I just do not think anyone is interesting in keeping it going. Sad.

[realdocBBQ]

Man that's too bad. I do try to support local businesses when I can, but it is becoming harder and harder and harder...

[Jim White]

Sigh. I worked in a locally owned grocery during high school. One Thanksgiving break during college, I showed up just a few minutes too late to help get a few more valuable things out as it burned to the ground. The family regrouped and reopened. I wonder if the daughter has managed to keep it running…

[randy.56]

It is sad, but Ed is 87, time to retire.

[STEbbq]

Thank you for sharing Ed’s story and making it come alive for us.

[Skip]

Sorry to hear this troymeister. We live in a town of about 3200 people and have only one Grocery store. Lucky for us our store sounds very similar to your Ed's. It has a pretty good selection, fair prices, and a good meat department. Our store is in the 3rd generation of ownership and he's around 50 years old. I have my fingers crossed that they can stay open for when I'm "old" (probably 1 year away for me?) so I don't have to drive 20 miles for groceries. Several people feel the same so they are supported pretty well.

[58limited]

troymeister Always sad when a mom and pop business closes. They usually have much better service than the chain stores. I guess I missed it in your original post - I understand Ed is retiring, his son Mike doesn't want to continue? No grand children are interested? We lost two local grocery stores here for that reason - younger generations went to college and got jobs in the big cities, they don't want to come back and run a small grocery.

If there is any equipment you're interested in such as a meat slicer, you might talk to them about buying theirs.

[smokenoob]

😥 my wife loves our local market, she would be devastated if it went away….sorry to hear

[Alan Brice]

My BIL's Deli/Liquor/Lottery is a mom n pop establishment. They serve local restaurant's alcohol needs and deliver groceries to shut ins. His Aunt n Uncle started it in '49. They are both gone now.
The three nieces have absolutely zero interest in it. Between the local derelicts, thieving high dollar bottles of liquor and the difficult to employ thieves that have access to the register, he feeds them and trusts all, way too much.
One was taking ribeyes home to feed her dog n another stole at least $45,000 in rolls of $20 lottery tickets. Lottery helped catch her from all the winning tickets she cashed around town. He has no recourse. She may stay at the Greybar hotel for a bit, but he is out of luck. Ohh, and she complained about getting her last payroll check?!??
That stunt almost closed him down and caused the layoff of 6-8 employed individuals. Not to mention the lack of access to all the regulars that get hot lunches and buy summertime burgers, metts n snausages on Fridays. Soo sad. It is different world these days.

[Greygoose]

Another sad day in America 🙁🙁🙁
Big is not always better,,,,