Sharon's only grocer opts for retirement

SHARON — It’s the end of an era. Trotta’s market owner Joseph “Skip†Trotta said he expects to close Sharon’s only grocery store on Wednesday, Dec. 31— exactly 25 years to the day after the store opened in 1983.

Employees were told last Tuesday, Dec. 9. A sign was posted in the store window the next day, saying “Retiring from business,†and thanking customers for their quarter-century of patronage.

As the store moves toward its last day, shelves in each aisle are emptied; perishable items are not being replaced in the massive coolers throughout the shop. All products are now on sale for 25 percent off, except beer and cigarettes.

Times are tough in the grocery business, as in every sector of the economy. But Trotta said that’s not why he’s closing the market.

“We’ve been through tough economies before and we could have made it through this one, too,†he said. “But I’m 65 now. The store has needed to be remodeled for a few years now, it needs freshening up. That means a commitment to work another 10 years, to pay for the remodeling. I don’t want to stay in this business for that much longer. I want to spend time with my family.â€

Trotta and his wife, Ann, have four grandchildren; the oldest is 6 years old.

Customers greet Trotta when they enter, and tell him how sad they are to see the business close.

“This is a small store with great people working here,†said longtime customer Pat Macura from Amenia, N.Y.  “Everyone here is helpful and courteous. All these big chain grocery stores are very ho-hum. I know everybody who works here. Local people make the difference. I will just miss this terribly.â€

Trotta is a second-generation store owner. In partnership with family members including, over the years, his father, Joseph, his brother, Robert, and of course, his wife, he at various times has owned three groceries, two liquor stores and a travel agency.

He’s been consolidating in recent years. He and his brother will continue to manage several properties they own together, including the shopping plaza in Millerton (they lease out a grocery store there to Grand Union).

The Sharon store has 15 employees and Trotta said he is trying to help them get jobs at other stores around the area. Many of the employees have worked at the store for years.

“Ann and I feel that the crew we have now is one of the best we’ve ever had here,†he said. “We’ve sent writeups on all our employees to Bob LaBonne [LaBonne’s Market in Salisbury] and Ray McEnroe [McEnroe’s Farm Market in Millerton]; they are two premier employers in our area who offer the same kind of work our people do best.

“It’s hard for me to say goodbye to all of them, it’s tough to be cutting jobs out from under these people,†he said. “I have had many good employees and good customers over the years. I just would like to tell all of them, thank you!â€

Trotta said much of the success of the grocery store has to do with his workers.

Dee Dee Donovan Mandino, whose family owns the shopping center, said they are actively looking for a new anchor for the shopping plaza.

“We are trying to find the right tenant, one who will go into the building and meet the needs of the community and bring new life to the plaza,†Mandino said. “We’ve had a great relationship with the Trotta family, but it’s time now for a new beginning.â€

Mandino, whose father, Raymond Donovan, built the plaza in 1955, said that her family has met with interested business owners.

“However, we don’t have any definite details to talk about yet,†she said. “In the end, we are excited for Skip because he is retiring and moving on with the next phase of his life.â€

Although he is sad to be closing the store, Trotta is looking forward to retirement.

“Working here is a seven-day-a-week job. It’s been almost five years since I had a vacation,†he said. “I am starting a new chapter where I plan to spend some time with my family. Of course, retirement may be much harder than working.â€

For a history of Trotta’s market,  published in March 2007, visit The Lakeville Journal Web site at tcextra.com; search for Trotta and specify the category “Sharon.â€