Landmark store closing in Pleasant Valley

PLEASANT VALLEY — Pleasant Valley is about to lose one of its local landmarks.

The Pleasant Valley General Store, at the center of town for more than five decades, will close its doors for good Monday, Aug. 31.

The building — located at the intersection of River and Ripley Hill roads — houses the store, a Citgo gas station and a hair salon. Store owner and manager Robert Bergeron said the hair salon will remain open and in business at the site.

Bergeron said he was forced into foreclosure after he was unable to meet the $5,000-a-month mortgage payments the last few months.

Bergeron said while business “has been brisk� over the past few weeks, the struggling economy coupled with an unusually wet spring and summer took a deep dent out of the store’s bottom line — and he found himself unable to recover.

“The rain killed us,� he said, explaining that excessive ground water meant that construction crews were unable to lay foundations and move forward on projects because when they would dig a hole it would quickly fill up with water. Projects were delayed or put on hold until the ground was dry enough to move forward.

“Weather slowed the construction down,� Bergeron said. “That means there is no surveying, no roofers, no people framing houses, no loggers... you noticed it right away.�

And while about 20 percent of the store’s business was related to the hikers, campers and fishermen visiting nearby Peoples State Forest, Bergeron said it was the construction workers stopping in for food, drinks and other items that made up the backbone of his business.

“The guys who used to come in for coffee and Danish have disappeared,� he said.

Bergeron, who previously managed the American Red Cross’ fleet of Bloodmobiles for the state, bought the store in December 1990; his first day of business was Jan. 1, 1991.

The general store, which has always been locally owned, originally was located near the Pleasant Valley Post Office along River Road. But the flood of 1955 destroyed the building, Bergeron said, and a few years later the business reopened at its present location.

“It’s been struggling forever,� he said of the store. “Every time we got ahead, something happened.�

With only a few days left, the majority of items in the store are deeply discounted.

“I’m just getting rid of the odds and ends and finishing up the gas,� Bergeron said.

And right now, he said has no set plans after the store closes for good on Monday.

“But I’ve got plenty to do,� he said.