Utica Square Grocery Store Closing After 70 Years

<p>First it was Miss Jackson's, now another long-time Utica Square business is calling it quits - Petty's Fine Foods is closing after more than 70 years.</p>

Tuesday, January 12th 2016, 7:05 pm

By: News On 6

Utica Square Grocery Store Closing After 70 Years

First it was Miss Jackson's, now another long-time Utica Square business is calling it quits - Petty's Fine Foods is closing after more than 70 years.

What looked like a normal shopping day at Petty's in Utica Square was anything but after announcing they are closing.

Rick: "When's it gonna happen?"
Scott Petty: "First week in February, we don't know for certain the date."

Petty's has been in Utica Square since 1972; Scott petty said the original store was across the street from where it currently sits.

His two grandfathers started the business in 1945 - a St. John parking garage is now where the old store used to be.

Petty grew up in the grocery business, and when you do, you do a little of everything.

"I sacked groceries, I've worked in the delicatessen, I've worked in the meat department, I've trimmed produce, I've delivered groceries...I've been a checker, a manager; I've stocked the dairy and frozen foods...I've done it all," he said.

Many customers have shopped at the store for decades.

"A lot of our customers we know by name. We're part of the neighborhood," Petty said.

But now the neighborhood is changing.

Miss Jackson’s and Petty’s are in one large building and there are rumors about which new tenant will take the space.

One rumor is that an H&M is coming while another says it could be Nordstrom’s.

What we can confirm is that a 20 percent off everything sale starts this weekend.