LeRoy and Diana DeBrakeleer are closing their Farrell grocery today and retiring.
Bernice Jacoway walked into the store, running her index fingers under her eyes to simulate tears. ``It's sad that you're going,'' she said.
For decades Ms. Jacoway has been a regular customer at DeBrakeleer's Market, 701 Hamilton Ave., Farrell, and she isn't the only one shedding tears at today's closing of the store.
``It's a sad time,'' said Diana DeBrakeleer, wife of owner LeRoy. She has been hearing story after story about the store and her husband's family over the last few days, and she displays retirement greeting cards by the cash register.
``Everyone's saying that no one's coming in (today) because they don't want to shed these tears,'' said Mrs. DeBrakeleer, who has pictures of her five grandchildren hanging from a light above the cash register.
Through Farrell's ups and downs, DeBrakeleer's market was a constant. Ms. Jacoway left the store with her bag of groceries and hugs from the DeBrakeleers. ``I can't say I'll see you Monday like I always do,'' she said.
Through Farrell's ups and downs, DeBrakeleer's market was a constant. DeBrakeleer's grandfather, Leon, had a store at two other locations in Farrell before building the 701 Hamilton store in 1901. Leon's son and daughter-in-law, Roy and Anne, took it over in 1937. Their son, LeRoy, was one of their first employees. His first job was breaking 100-pound bags of potatoes into smaller bags.
Minding the store was sometimes very hard work, especially at the holidays, when his specialty meats were most in demand, DeBrakeleer said. There were times when he and his wife worked 48 hours straight, and he would nearly fall asleep standing up while cutting meat. His father instilled a work ethic in him at a young age.
``Every summer he'd tell us, `Move this, change that,'' DeBrakeleer said. ``On a sunny Sunday I'd be working all day.''
DeBrakeleer's choice cuts of meat and his wife's baskets and sandwiches were only part of the attraction for customers. The store, with its produce stand and coolers dating from the `50s, had a neighborhood atmosphere. Kids came in for penny candy and adults came as much to relate the latest about their kids with Mrs. DeBrakeleer as for groceries.
``All these girls are saying, `Who am I going to talk to talk to now?'' Mrs. DeBrakeleer said. ``I guess you'll have to call me on the phone.''
Another frequent complaint from customers: where will they get their meat? ``I'll get a van and peddle,'' DeBrakeleer quipped to one customer.
Pat Mastrian, a customer for 56 years, said DeBrakeleer's has been his main source of groceries for most of that time.
``When Westinghouse, where I worked, went on strike Roy would tell me, `Pay me when you get back to work.'''
The DeBrakeleers' son-in-law and granddaughter were in town recently and videotaped interviews with the DeBrakeleers at the store, dredging up stories and memories.
``I've been here for 30 years,'' Mrs. DeBrakeleer said. ``I've seen a lot of kids grow up. A lot of memories.''
DeBrakeleer said he decided to close the store because ``I'm 67 years old. It's tough to go but it's time. You hate to leave the neighborhood. I've been here my whole life.''
The store has been good to the DeBrakeleers, putting their two kids through college.
The DeBrakeleers, who live in Hermitage, said they once hoped that their kids would be interested in carrying on the tradition, but understand that they had to make their own ways.
Their son Don is a gynecologist in New York and daughter Joni Lewandowski lives in Chicago.
The DeBrakeleers said they feel bad about leaving customers to find somewhere else to get their groceries, but declining business in the last four years contributed to their decision. ``We've just been hanging on,'' Mrs. DeBrakeleer said.
At one time, the market could compete with bigger stores, but that's no longer the case.
``This store's really going to be missed,'' Ms. Jacoway said. ``We need a good neighborhood store.''
The DeBrakeleers have been trying to sell the store for a year, but potential deals have fallen through. ``It's an excellent spot,'' Mrs. DeBrakeleer said.
Published Saturday, May 30, 1998
