appreciated your family support--a shame that more don't miss it.

Survived the S.University Center demise, and now suffering through the K Mart Center breakdown.

Not to mention Central Ave.traffic being sparse due to the geographic loss of the key destinations(like

the hospital,Roosevelt school and all other schools, AK management and the other paper corporations, and all of the businesses formerly downtown).

Things have changed, and everyone like DILLMAN FOODS/SAVEALOT is long gone.

the old S.University deli was a huge success as well as our scratch bakery back then. As Vet might say--the good ole days when the city was functioning in all areas. The Armco/AK crews supported us big time(we tried to help with the LEAP program if you remember that far back), even in the 70s from HQ b4 they were moved to New Jersey. Things have gone downhill since as the center looks terrible(thanks Middletown ED Dept. for the 25+ years of neglect!).

That old deli still sits behind the front wall of SAVEALOT.

 

The DILLMAN FOODS  deli is as good or better imo, and is probably the cornerstone of the business currently. I let conditions slip for a while, but feel good about how we look at every location.

 

Still struggling to survive, but look at what has happened to everyone similar.

 

It will be interesting to see what happens to the Marsh locations locally. Their days are numbered I hear.

With the city ignoring current long-term businesses and instead subsidizing Duncan Oil(who already reneged on one local project) and the downtown UDF, the deck is definitely stacked against us.

I understand your concerns, and I haven't seen a mouse around for quite a while.

They are not invited, however, as you mentioned, over time I have seen just about everything.

 

For a long while, my neighbors to the rear littered the back alley with trash. Thankfully we have newer, more caring neighbors at this time. Unfortunately, we are all somewhat at the mercy of our neighborhood conditions, and my business neighborhoods all seem to be shifting the wrong way. The demographic change between Supthin and Crawford has been an economic disaster. While the S.University center looks bad, the neighborhood is surprisingly safe. As for the K Mart plaza(formerly) on Roosevelt and the surrounding centers-----don't want to say anything.

 

Hopefully, after saying this, I won't see critters any time soon.

 

Middletown is currently a tough nut to crack for most small businesses due to the economy and other factors which have occurred in the last 5 years.  Many small businesses are struggling in town to just get by and keep the doors open. 

 

I recently was at another grocery store that had a similar feature although it is now used for pick up for groceries that are ordered online.

 

While too young to remember it, I hear the old store on University was quite a showplace when it first opened and a model for grocery stores of the future.

 

In the late 60s, we bought Reedy's Market in the area formerly known as downtown. We were VERY successful then, operating well on Central Ave., and downtown, pioneering the 24-hour concept. We were forced out of that location for the enclosed downtown mall, and have been courted to return ever since.

 

After that closure, we became involved in the S.University Center, and were in the building plans and initial opening(with help from a very aware city govt.). That store opened as a showplace on scale with the current Dorothy Lane operation. We were carpeted, co-workers wore black pants-white shirts-ties, and customer service was a key component. First hot deli in the area, first expansive assortment of lunch meats,cheeses,desserts, butchers on-call for specialty cuts--largest beer/wine & gourmet food selection in the area + a superior scratch bakery.

 

We were visited daily by Kroger execs and everyone to experience the concept. Virtually everyone in the city patronized that location, particularly the upper class(remember--this is the current location of the S.University SAVEALOT), and we opened in 1972.

 

When Armco moved the top exec headquarters to NJ, that was the beginning of the "change" , or "shift of demographics". One by one, the big businesses began to leave the area, taking the key white collar jobs out of town. Armco became AK and the down-sizing has continued ever since. At one time, between AK and Square D workers, we had huge back-ups at the hot food counter daily. We were the best at super market hot food then, and still are today at our Central Ave.location imo.

 

Then Cambridge Inn closed, Target(formerly Ayr Way) moved, and the businesses between gradually all disappeared,Square D along with the Pleak family's excellent BP service station. We have been the ONLY business operating in that center for the last 25 years. So--you see why I might be somewhat displeased with local Economic Development efforts(or lack of). Most municipal employees(out-of-towners) don't even know that the store exists.

 

We switched to the SAVEALOT concept over 10 years ago(with city support) due to the demographic shift(yes--we could see it coming), and 4 years ago, changed our Roosevelt location to the same format for the same reasoning. Now--I am watching that Roosevelt center evolve along the same pattern. Makes me literally sick because I know what is coming, but can't do much to change it on my own(in our current weakened state).

 

So--thanks to everyone who has supported us along the way. Couldn't have made it without you, and WON'T make it without you now. If you don't like us, or we have disappointed you, I apologize and understand. It hasn't been an easy last 20 years and we have struggled. However--at this time--I feel confident in saying that our 3 locations are in better shape than in a long while, and provide excellent value.

 

Still--nothing lasts forever. Everything has it's cycle.

If things don't get better, then we are gone.

I will share the praise with everyone involved, and will shoulder the failures.

 

At least, that is my shortened version.

 

Paul Nagy

My business will either be down-sized, re-focused or gone in a reasonably short time.

Times have changed, our city has changed(big time demographically), and the business community must change or  disappear. Honestly--I never thought that "things" would move so quickly in the direction that has transpired. Enough "whining" on my end. Suck it up and make it work, Spider--that is what you are here to do.

 

I do my shopping exclusively at Ms.Patti's business. Well run--always have what I need, locally-owned and a positive member of this forum.