Centre Fruit Gourmet on West Trenton Avenue closed its doors for the final time on Saturday, finishing out 45 years of service in Falls Township.
The grocery and deli was owned by the husband and wife team of Sandro Compagnone and Karen Marrazzo.
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“All [last] week has been great. [There have been] lots of people by to take advantage of the 50 percent off, and also to give their respect,” explained Compagnone.
Compagnone said that about five years ago the store began to see a decline in business, and the closing of the Calhoun Street Bridge in recent years made the store lose many customers. According to Compagnone, many customers failed to return in either number or frequency.
“It was very tough for us to decide to close the store, but we had to do it,” explained Compagnone.
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“I lost my father two and a half years ago, and this is the second hardest thing I have had to deal with in my life,” reflected Compagnone.
Compagnone said that he is not sure of any current plans for the site of grocery.
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“I have had companies that have been shopping here since we have opened. They come from all over the area,” said Compagnone.
According to Compagnone, there was an attempt to sell the store so a new owner could take the brand, but the deal fell through.
“People telling me that they greatly enjoyed our food and service made me feel good,” he said. “In order to work here, you had to be special, is how they put it.”
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Compagnone has been with the company for 32 years, and became a partner with his wife and her brothers in 1992. In 2006, Compagnone and Marrazzo became co-owners.
According to Compagnone, they are entertaining the notion of coming back sometime in the future, and, if they do he promises they will be “stronger and smaller.”
