MARCH 22, 2000
Longtime Fostoria grocery to have one last sale today
By Malinda Ruble
Staff Writer
FOSTORIA -- A little piece of town history is to be put on the auction block today when the former Lewis IGA building is sold.
Lewis IGA closed in June 1999 after decades of selling groceries in the Fostoria area.
Darlye Reinhart, owner of Lewis IGA, said the building will be sold at public auction at 11 a.m. today.
Following the sale of the property near the intersection of Midblock and West South Street, the equipment inside of the building will be sold.
"The auction, which will clear everything to the bare walls, includes shelving, refrigeration equipment, butcher-shop items and a lot of odds and ends,'' Reinhart said.
Reinhart, who owned the store for more than 13 years, sold the store after he was unable to provide necessary improvements to keep the business competitive in the area.
"I think without a doubt those guys (large grocery chains) have made it rough on the independent guys," Reinhart said. "But if I had not gotten into other ventures eight years ago, I think we would have been very solid. I'm just sorry we weren't in a position to keep up with the times to continue to serve.''
The IGA, which was known as the White Front Market, dates back to the 1930s. The store was known for providing a quality meat selection and small town service to life-long customers.