Middlebury's Only Grocery Store To Close After 83 Years

MIDDLEBURY, CT — After more than eight decades in business, Middlebury's only grocery store will close, The Waterbury Republican- American reported.

The store's owner, Joe Dinova, 70, said he plans to retire. Four Corners Grocery Store has been around since 1941, when Dinova's grandfather first opened the shop.

A post announcing that Four Corners would be closing garnered 112 reactions and 53 comments.

One customer thanked the Dinova family "for always caring for our grocery needs for 80+ years."

"Whenever a need arose, or families were in need, the Dinova Family answered that call. Thank you!" the customer wrote.

The 600 Middlebury Road store announced a liquidation sale: 35 percent off furniture and fixtures all week. Everything else in the store is 25 percent off, excluding alcohol and cigarettes.

Dinova told the Republican-American that the store will become a Dollar General Market. Two of the stores, a supermarket including more offerings than a standard Dollar General, opened in February in Essex and Vernon.

Four Corners will be moved out by May 1 for the new store.

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Dinova said that the "pandemic hit and it changed everything," according to The Hartford Courant. He said customers remained loyal but the cost of doing business increased.

Dinova recently informed his employees about the closure, some of whom had been with him for more than 30 years.

Read the full story in The Republican-American and The Courant.