Stanley’s Fruit and Vegetables shop is no more.
The long-standing Chicago business is shutting its doors suddenly, leaving employees and shoppers shocked.
Workers and shoppers showed up Monday morning to Stanley’s to find a note on the door. After 52 years of business, the family-owned store is closed.
Inita Powell was one of those shoppers.
"I’m just absolutely stunned," she said. "This has been a staple in our lives. Us North Siders have always used this. When I had a rabbit as a little girl I came and got my food here. This is terrible."
The note on the door says employees should return Wednesday to get their paychecks. Many have worked for owner Stanley Peters for over a decade. Peters’ nephew, Tony Panagiotaros, told NBC 5 the decision was made last minute. And comes after significant health and financial struggles.
"Right now he’s 84 and he’s exhausted," Panagiotaros said. "A lot of them are upset, a lot understand they are coming in Wednesday to pick up their paychecks.”
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Colleen Gettings is another long-time shopper.
"It’s disappointing, I feel badly for them," she said.
In the meantime, shoppers are just sad their neighborhood staple, on the corner of Elston and North avenues is suddenly gone. Many gathered outside the door Monday, calling the closure the end of an era.
“I’m very sad because I live right down the street," Gettings said. "So I would jog up here get my fruits and veggies and jog home. So it’s a bummer."
The silver lining to the closure? All the produce inside will not go to waste. Stanley’s gave it away to their last batch of customers.
