Carl Greeley, owner of Geresbeck’s stores in Baltimore, passed away last month at the age of 92.
Greeley was born and raised in Baltimore. He attended school in the city but dropped out at age 16 to help support his family. He learned meatcutting at a local market before joining his future father in law at C&G Market in the city. There he trimmed and cut meat and met his future wife, Josephine Capizzi, whom he married in 1951.
Later, Greeley became a manager for Food Fair, the now-defunct Philadelphia- based supermarket operation. When those stores later became Pantry Prides, Greeley ran the company’s Joppa Road store.
In 1971, Greeley had the opportunity to become a store owner, buying his first location in Orchard Beach. That store was a former independently-owned Eddie’s Market.
Greeley named the store Carl’s Bi-Rite; the Bi-Rite banner was used by independently-owned supermarkets.
In 1979, he founded Box N Save and he owned stores under that name in Pasadena, Glen Burnie, Brooklyn Park and on Liberty Road.
In 1985, Greeley bought the Geresbeck’s stores in eastern Baltimore County.
Greeley remained active in the business for many years. In 2019 he purchased the Pasadena location of Lauer’s and renamed it Geresbeck’s, adding it to the two other Geresbeck’s and giving the company three locations.
Greeley is survived by his wife of 71 years; daughters Rose Kenzora (John), Carole Bateman (Bill), Gloria Wiessner (Bill) and Joanne Graham (Jerry); brothers C. Joseph Greeley and R. William Greeley; 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.
