For the second time in nine months an independent supermarket operator in Lancaster County has decided to sell its business to a larger chain. Quarryville, PA based Ferguson & Hassler announced May 20 that it will close its store at 100 Towns Edge Drive on June 19 and sell it to Giant/Martin’s.
Ferguson & Hassler was founded as a general store in 1916 by Ellis E. Ferguson and George W. Hassler Sr. It has operated in Quarryville since then as a family-owned store.
The decision to sell the store follows a similar move by family-owned Darrenkamp’s in September when they opted to close four stores and sell their flagship location on Willow Street in Lancaster.
Over the past few years as the industry has undergone seismic change, and smaller independent retailers have been affected by the number of new competitors they faced and the diverse platforms which some of those retailers offered.
Business became even more challenging last year when Whole Foods and Wegmans both opened their first Lancaster County stores.
“The existing economics in the grocery industry no longer support the operation of a family-owned, independent supermarket such as ours,” Ferguson & Hassler said in a statement.
“We have tried numerous avenues to be successful over the years with the single exception of opening our doors on Sunday. We feel it is to the credit of our exceptional employees that enabled us to withstand the changing market for as long as we did,” the company added.
“We were thrilled when the Hassler family contacted us about their beautiful store,” said Nicholas Bertram, president of Giant/Martin’s. “We recognize the important role this store plays in the Quarryville community, and we can’t wait to begin serving the loyal customers of Ferguson & Hassler’s and introduce them to the very best of the Giant/Martin’s brand, which many customers throughout Lancaster County have enjoyed for more than 20 years.”
Upon completion of the sale, Giant/Martin’s will temporarily close the 65,000 square foot store for approximately one week to complete a remodel of the store and on-site fuel station. The company plans to reopen the store as Giant/Martin’s in late June of this year.
Acknowledging the different journey each customer takes to bring food to the family table, Giant/Martin’s will enhance the location to serve customers whenever and however they want. Busy Quarryville customers can choose to visit in-store, order their groceries online for easy curbside pick-up or have their groceries delivered with Giant/Martin’s Direct, Powered by Peapod.
Ferguson and Hassler associates will have the opportunity to interview with Giant/Martin’s.
Giant/Martin’s currently operates nine stores in Lancaster County, employing more than 1,400 associates.
The Ferguson and Hassler’s announcement follows a series of strategic investments that the company has recently made to its store fleet and family of brands, including the opening of the first Giant/Martin’s Heirloom Market in Philadelphia, where three additional locations are planned; the grand opening of its new Giant/Martin’s Direct e-commerce hub in the city of Lancaster; the opening of five new Martin’s Food Markets in April following the company’s acquisition of five Shop ‘n Save locations; a new store in Walnutport that opened last week and a new store set to open in East Stroudsburg later this year.