The only life in the old place was its pillars — Kelly and his wife, Glenna, and longtime employee, Peggy Crockett.
Kelly, 83, said the calendar nailed to the wall is full with doctor visits as they try to diagnose his illnesses.
When asked about being in the grocery business for 58 years — 51 as the owner — Kelly said: “That’s long enough.”
But his wife doesn’t sound so sure.
“I think I could work another 10 years,” the 72-year-old said.
Owner’s declining health brings end to Kelly’s Market
They came to buy groceries.
They left with grief.
On Monday, April 12, on an otherwise beautiful afternoon, several customers were disappointed, saddened, and in a few cases, brought to tears, when told Kelly’s Market — a Middletown staple for more than five decades — was closing its doors on Saturday, April 17.
The scene resembled a visitation. One by one, they walked through the front door, and after seeing the nearly bare shelves and being told the grocery store was closing, they paid their final respects.
They hugged the owners, Kelly and Glenna Clair, thanked them for their years of service, then repeated the exchange when they visited longtime employee Peggy Crockett near the meat counter.
You don’t see this exchange at the box stores, but, of course, no one at Kelly’s wears — or needs — a name tag.
“I hate to see them leave,” said Carolyn Milton, who left disappointed that Kelly’s was out of bacon, one of its trademarks. “They’re just nice people.”
Two other customers — John Greenfield and Judy Batze — said the closing of Kelly’s, blamed on the owner’s failing health, is another sad sign of the city’s economy.
“It’s sad,” Batze said. “I don’t know what has happened to this town.”
Then she answered : “It went nowhere.”
Greenfield remembered a time when “Mom and Pop” grocery stores were “anchors on every block.”
Now they’re being washed ashore by national chains.
“There’s nothing left in this town,” Greenfield said. “Nothing.”
There will be one more nothing after Saturday when Kelly’s closes its doors for the last time, another sad chapter in Middletown’s history.
Glenna Clair called the closing “a sad situation.” She walked into the office, grabbed a tissue, dabbed the tears, then returned to the store.
“She’s taking it hard,” said Crockett, who has worked at Kelly’s for more than 18 years.
Later, Glenna was asked how long she’s been married. Fifty-three years, she said. Then she added with a smile: “You got to make one mistake in your life.”
Score one for the lady.
Kelly and Glenna operated a successful business for more than five decades and raised three daughters .
Kelly, 83, attended school in Kentucky and dropped out after the 10th grade. Glenna, 72, attended schools in Middletown, dropped out in the 10th grade, then began her grocery career.
Now, with more time on her hands, Glenna and Crockett are heading back to school to earn their GED diplomas.
Something to celebrate.
Finally.
Contact this columnist at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com
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