BEVERLY — The Gloria Food Store has been a downtown fixture at the corner of Rantoul and Federal streets since its opening in 1936.
And now, as the 18th and last surviving member of the Gloria Foods chain, it will soon be closing.
That’s probably no surprise to its friends and customers since the Ofiesh family, owners of Gloria since 1983, announced in early March that it was going up for sale.
Since then, parents Paul and Rose Marie and brother Mark have died, and surviving siblings Ken and Melissa have gradually moved on to other things, leaving brother Scott Ofiesh to run the store, he said in a Wednesday afternoon interview.
But along the way, he was quick to add, were aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins, all of whom contributed to Gloria’s success. And now, Ofiesh said, the final details of the sale are nearing conclusion.
When asked why he was selling now, he said simply: “It’s time — I’m 65, and I’m here way more hours than I want to say.”
In a statement to its Faceboko page Tuesday morning, Gloria Foods announced the closing:
“After over 40 incredible years of serving our community,” it read, “it is with mixed emotions that we announce the upcoming closure of the Gloria Food Store.
“This decision was not made lightly, and while we haven’t yet finalized the details, we want to take this moment to express our deepest gratitude to every single customer, employee and partner who has supported us along the way.
“For decades, the Gloria Food Store has been more than just a business — It has been a family. We are immensely proud of the relationships we have built and the trust you have placed in us … your support means the world to us.
Gloria Food promised to “keep (its customers) updated on the final day of operation and on any further details. Until then we remain committed to serving you with the same care and dedication we’ve always strived to provide.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being a part of this journey. We will cherish the memories and the community we have built forever — With gratitude, Scott, Stephanie, Ellie and the rest of our Gloria’s Crew.”
Ofiesh said Wednesday that, although the details of the transaction of are still incomplete, he hopes to be able to make a formal announcement of the sale on or about next Friday, June 21.