West Kittanning Foodland Prepares for Closing

By Jonathan Weaver

A local grocery store might be closing its doors by the end of the week.

West Kittanning Foodland, part of Hilltop Plaza in East Franklin Township, has been operating closing sales for the past two weeks, and according to Store Manager Bernie Bowser, Jr., food might be gone by this weekend.

Last week, the store had less than $200,000 worth of inventory, compared to the usual-$800,000 when the announcement was made online August 25. Bowser, Jr. said only a few new products will be brought in.

“Whatever’s here is here – all sales are final,” Bowser, Jr. said. “We did bring some bread and milk because that’s the number one things people buy when they come in to a grocery store because we want to please our customers as much as we can while they’re still faithful shoppers, but other than that, what’s here is here.”

“We’re here till the last can’s on the shelf, hopefully,” Bowser, Jr. said.

Bowser, Jr. has worked a total of 29 years at Foodland – both at the current location in Hilltop Plaza (which opened in 1992) and the former location (in the current-Highlands Center in West Kittanning). He hopes a new grocery store leases the current space, and is leaving his personal options open as to future employment.

“Whatever’s best for my family,” Bowser, Jr. said. “I started when I was a junior in high school back in 1985 and I just made my 29 years – I’ve been here quite-a-long time.”

Store Owner George Hathaway purchased the store from Butch Kane three-and-a-half years ago, and thanked the community and employees for their dedication. He pledged to help out employees if they need it.

“We came to the decision to cease operations effective (August 25). It was a tough decision, but something we felt we had to do,” Hathaway said.

The grocery store anchored the shopping center when it was built before Wal-Mart leased space at the other end of the plaza and it began to grow.

Despite its popularity – particularly in the floral and bakery departments - Bowser, Jr., Hathaway and former owner Kane consider West Kittanning Foodland a country store due to their personal attention and considering coworkers family.

“We’re not a city store – we get to know our customers. You might not know everyone by first name but we’ve talked to them many times. Customer service is a big thing in this area to keep a business sustainable.”

Kane, who opened the store in West Kittanning in 1982 in the current-Highlands Center - said he would indeed miss the customers the most.

“I could’ve gone to any Thoroughfare I wanted before they sold out. I lived in Delmont, but I said I wanted to go to Kittanning,” Kane said. “They couldn’t understand why I wanted to be so far from home at the time, but I loved Kittanning.

“Kittanning is the nicest bunch of people I’ve ever met in my life.”

Empty shelves where produce is usually kept is filled with plastic-ware and thermal bags

Debbie Wranich of Rural Valley has worked in the deli for 23 years. She also shopped at the grocery store.

“We had fun – a good rapport with the customers, with each other. At one time, there were 14 of us, and then it dwindled down,” Wranich said.

Wranich said the grocer has effectively run out of ham and pepperoni.

She hasn’t thought what she wants to do after the store closes, but hopes to find a new job after taking some time off.

Carol Ruth of West Kittanning worked in the deli for 24 years. She will look at her future employment options after an United Food and Commercial Workers Local Union #23 meeting this week.

“It’s going to be a big adjustment – it’s hard to believe,” Ruth said. “But you gotta do what you gotta do.”

“J.R.” of Templeton found out about the closing right after returning from vacation with his two children: 12-year-old twins Jeffrey and Jeannette. He might try to acquire his Commercial Drivers License.

The store used to employ about 125 local residents, Bowser, Jr. said.

“At one time, we (employed) about 125, but since competition has gotten bigger and business has slowed down, right now we’re about 80-85,” Bowser, Jr. said. “We’ve already laid some off, but before the announcement was made, we were about 80 employees. Unemployment will be on the rise here.”

An S&T Bank location is also inside the store, and still open. Bank representatives at the bank headquarters in Indiana, Pa. could not be reached last week.

Virginia Harmon of Ford City shopped at both the West Kittanning and former-Ford City locations. She was in for walnuts last week, but the store sold out.

 

 

1 Comment

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  By jorn jensen, September 8, 2014 @ 10:17 PM

  Sorry to see Foodland go. That’s where we shopped. Sorry, also, for the lost jobs - good people there.

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