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Petosa’s Family Grocer, which shut down temporarily earlier this year following damage from a malfunctioning sprinkler system, is closing for good Feb. 28, sources close to My Edmonds News say.
On April 19, the community came together for a “cash mob” to support the store — the only independently-owned grocery in Edmonds– following its one-week closure.
The shopping center complex where Petosa’s is located on 5th Avenue South was built in 1969, and the space it occupies was originally the site of an A&P grocery store. Tom and Betty Jo Petosa opened the store in 1986.
We will have more information on the store closing as it becomes available.
Apparently the ‘deal is done’ .. store sold?
Yet another small business closing….another terrible sigh of the times.
Wow. That’s too bad. But not surprising. Hopefully a chain with better prices and selection will take over. Seems like a prime location for a Target City Centre smaller store? Better yet – bowling alley!
Noooo! I love Petosa’s…the convenience, friendly staff, location, everything. I’m very sad.
Petosa’s has been a very special gift to all of us in Edmonds. I am so very sorry that we will lose the wonderful people and service that they have brought us.
This is unfortunate for the bowl community, owners and employees.
This is too bad. I am sorry to hear this. I wish all the employees the best. Hope everyone involved goes on to bigger and better things. Petosas will surely be missed.
Bill H.- What chain would you like to see there? Do you think for a minute that a large chain would actually move to an area that nearly half of it’s customer base is the Puget Sound?
I worked in that store for over 20 years and saw it grow from a struggling store to a sustainable business during that time. My uncle poured his heart and soul into that store and the end product was a very competitive, full service store that served the community in more ways than providing groceries.
I will admit that I haven’t worked there since a year after my uncle died (5 years or so) but I would be willing to bet that as the cost of doing business kept increasing and the economy tanking, they (and many other small businesses) find it difficult to compete.
As for a Target City Center or bowling alley….. I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Bill, I looked up the Target City Store concept and the ones that I could find square footage data on all have about 100,000 square feet or more. The county tax records show this building is less that 50,000 sq ft for both floors.
I am so sorry to hear this. I like Petosa’s and the friendly people who work there. Plus the sheer convenience of the location is great.
I wonder if this closure might be anything to do with Obamacare kicking in, and yet another layer of costs about to be added on to an already heavy load?
I am growing more and more heartsick at news like this.
Grocery workers in the area are part of the Teamsters union and already are covered by medical benefits that have long been negotiated with the employers.
It is my understanding that the store has been for sale for a long time and there just are no buyers for it. It is too bad, but unfortunately it is hard for independent grocery stores to compete against the chain supermarkets, the hypermarkets (Fred Meyers, Walmart, Target), and the warehouses (Costco, Sam’s Club). Even the smaller grocery chains that we had in the past in the area have been gobbled up (Olson’s, Thrifty, etc.)
Very sorry to hear this. Jim Petosa hired me in 2006 and I worked there for less than a year. Petosa’s has always been my ‘go to’ store for deli, bread, milk etc., but it’s prices have driven me ‘up the hill’ for my major grocery purchases. I will miss the friendly service from several employees that I consider good friends.
I am very sorry to hear the news. The current focus should be the on the owners and employees involved in a process that can be very stressful in closing a long standing small business in Edmonds loved by many.
It is sad to see another downtown Edmonds business close. I will miss shopping for the items I can’t get at the big box stores and the unique items that they have during the holiday seasons. But most of all I’ll miss the friendly faces that greet me each time I stop in to shop.
A big concern should be that after Petosa’s closes there will be NO general grocery store in downtown for residents and emplotees of nearby businesses to walk to for groceries or a fresh sandwich.If you have a car or can take the bus you can shop the big box stores at Westgate area or on HWY 99, and we will be poorer for it.
I concur with all the citizens who will miss Petosa’s and are heartsick. I felt lucky each time I went there. Unfortunately grocery stores have one of the smallest margins of profit among businesses. That is why they need volume to succeed. I have read that produce is one of the better areas for making a profit.
How about replacing Bill the Butcher with Pete the Produce guy!
I wonder if such a business could make money.
As for the current owners let’s support them as best we can and give them a good send-off.
Remember ! Support your local businesses like the new hardware store to make sure they stay here.
This news breaks my heart. I shop there, love the people and the convenience. There is nothing like Petosa’s anywhere these days. I am so sad that they are leaving. It will leave a huge void in Edmonds and a hardship on some elderly that live nearby that don’t have cars and don’t like taking a bus when they have a cart.
I have enjoyed the friendly staff, the excellent deli and the quality groceries. I truly hope that another grocery store will somehow find a place in the downtown Edmonds area. And yes, I will do my best to give them a great sendoff even though I wish they would stay.
What a huge loss!!
This will be an incredible loss to residents without transportation, on limited incomes, and who count on the deli for their meals!
It will be a loss for all of us who find the employees exceptionally friendly and helpful.
Very sad to see an independent, local business closing. Love the Petosa family and love the friendly staff who worked there over the years!
Very sad to see Petosa’s close. It was a special gift to the many, and in particular some older residents of downtown Edmonds who were no longer driving and could walk to Petosa’s and get what they needed, along with great service. My mother moved out of the area in July to a retirement community in the Northgate area and she still drives up to Edmonds to shop at Petosa’s! She will be heartbroken!
When I lived in another state there was a small co-op grocery store. Membership dollars helped fund the operation. And, members also donated a few hours of their time each month performing a variety of tasks. Wouldn’t this be a possibility in Edmonds? Our local “bowl” neighbors — many of whom are elderly — rely on Petosa’s convenient location for staples and for small deli meals. Isn’t there someone around here who could put together a business plan based on a co-op model? How about some help from the city’s “Economic Development” people? Could we incorporate a food bank? Maybe some local high school or community college students could work there as “interns” or to fulfill community service requirements. It would be great if the community came together to fill this need.
I am sorry to see Petosa’s close. I know a lot of you who have expressed your opinion about how expensive Petosa’s is, well, you got your wish. I hate to see any business close let alone a cool grocery store thats not surrounded by a Starbucks or a bank branch. For those of you who com[plained about prices, just think, Maybe a Safeway, QFC, Albertsons, Fred Meyers, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, McDonalds, IHOP, Tulleys and Starbucks can all purchase “Isle rights” and maybe Petosa’s can stay in business!
Jim, I know I have never met you but I am very sorry for these bad economic times that have forced you to close up shop.
Good luck in the future!
Ron Smith
Why?