The Duke Center Superette will close its doors today after serving the community for more than 60 years.

The store was originally built by the Snow family, Ted, Walt, Vic, and Tom, in the early 1940s. In 1957, Gene and Wanda Spencer purchased the store and operated it for 27 years, selling it to Donna and Sonny Marshall in 1984. They made many changes, such as expanding the grocery selection, building warehouse space, and adding a meat room for special cuts.

The Marshalls operated the grocery store and gas station successfully for 15 years until they retired in 1999. It was then purchased by Sharon Littlefield and Buck and Kelley Daniels, who currently operate it.

The Superette will certainly be missed. Duke Center residents will no longer have luxury of running to the corner for a gallon of milk or to fill up their gas tanks. Their nearest conveniences will be located in the neighboring towns of Bradford and Eldred.

Otto Township Supervisor Mark Palmer said “It will leave a big void in the community. Everyone in town will be without a place to buy the basic necessities.”

Meanwhile, Mike Miller, president of the Duke Center Chamber of Commerce, noted “It’s sad to see it go from a personal standpoint. It’s a place I’ve gone to visit with people my whole life. They have worked very well with the Chamber of Commerce and helped with many events. It will be an inconvenience for a lot of people.”

Some say it’s a sign of the times. Others say small stores can no longer compete with superstores and discount gas stations. One thing is sure. As Duke Center residents line up on Main Street today to watch the Homecoming parade, there will also be a note of sadness for the loss of a landmark.

printer friendly version

e-mail this story

Reader Comments

There are No comments posted. comments to this story.
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bradfordera.com.

Submit a Comment

We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.