MILTON TOWNSHIP – Sparkle Markets announced plans to close their Craig Beach location, according to a social media post on Friday.

According to the post, the decision was made because of sales decreasing significantly, which was attributed to the opening of several convenient and dollar stores minutes from their location. The COVID-19 pandemic still hasn’t been kind to them and other local businesses four years later, they added, as most companies are operating short-staffed and on reduced hours.

Vince Furrie, owner of seven of 18 Mahoning Valley Sparkle Markets, said keeping dollar stores out of villages like Craig Beach is how supermarkets stay around.

“All I can tell you is you see it around the country. Everybody knows that dollar stores are destroying local supermarkets and leaving them in a food desert,” Furrie said.

He also said that while they didn’t make much money staying open, they kept it open because it was the “right thing to do.”

“We did enjoy the facility. It was a great little neighborhood. Didn’t make the kind of money we needed to make,” Furrie said. “But you know what? It was above the red zone. We made money.”

Furrie said he would like to relocate the store’s 12 employees.

Allen Wasylychyn, president of the Yost Community Center’s food pantry, a group that worked closely with the store, considers the closing a “big loss for everyone.” Wasylychyn added they would always get meat from them, receiving donations for the past eight years.

“We always have needed a grocery store and it was ideal when Sparkle came into town, they were great,” Wasylychyn said.

The end of October marks the last day to shop at the Craig Beach Sparkle.