DEERFIELD — For more than 40 years Savages’ Market has provided a place for the Old Deerfield community to pick up the latest gossip along with eggs, and have a friendly conversation while buying a bottle of wine.
Tonight, all of that will end, when owners Phil and Lisa Savage switch off the lights and lock up for the last time before moving four hours north to New Hampshire. The couple said they’re moving on to other pursuits, closing one of the region’s the remaining mom-and-pop style grocery stores — known locally for its sandwiches.
“That’s gonna be the hard part for me, the customers,” Phil Savage, 59, said from behind the cash register on a recent morning. “I’m used to seeing them every day. I’ll miss them. They tell me that they’re gonna miss me, but I’ll miss them. I have hundreds of friends (here) every week.”
The bell jingled as a customer entered the store, walking among low shelves and over the creaking floorboards of the gray building at 470 Greenfield Road. Built in 1975 by Savage’s father, Ben Savage (who, while building the store worked at Foodmart for 30 years).
On Wednesday, the store owner — one of seven children who began working at the store as a teenager — paused to greet the customer by name before nostalgically adding, “it’s been good, right up to the end. … 41 years.” Savage said that his father, who lives in the house behind the market, is emotional about the move but understands that it’s time to move on.
Next to the long-time local businessman stood town Building Inspector Richard Calisewski, who described the store’s closing as “the passing of an icon,” and said there’s an “aura of home” inside the building. He’s right — Savage knows every customer’s name and order before they ask.
A day earlier, Lisa Savage explained that they decided to move out of the family business three years ago, and put the business up for sale. Closing wasn’t their first option. But, since then, they haven’t received a single offer.
The business’ brand, property and 4,259-square-foot building are listed together on HG Johnson Real Estate for $395,000. Phil Savage said they have received offers on the building and property only (not the brand).
Their departure from Franklin County isn’t because of poor or bad-business. To the contrary, Savage said his business is still profitable. He also said that if he were to stay open through next year, he thinks business would be even better because construction on Interstate 91 would increase traffic flow on Routes 5 and 10.
Rather, Savage said he’s ready to lead a less-stressful life.
“This is time for me to go,” Savage said, adding that his sons are both happily situated in other careers and don’t wish to carry on the business. The store owner said that, after selling the property, he hopes to find work in the grocery or retail business elsewhere. Until the building sells, Phil Savage said he’ll stay in the apartment upstairs before joining his wife in New Hampshire.
After officially closing tonight, Savage said there will be a tag sale on Saturday to sell what items remain in the store.
You can reach Andy Castillo
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