ASHLAND — A longtime Ashland market known for its meat, draft beer and hot lunches has announced it will soon close.
Cleveland Avenue Market, a fixture of the city, delivered the bad news through a Facebook post on Wednesday morning.
“It comes with great sadness to provide you with one of our last posts on this page,” reads a post from the market’s Facebook page.
“Many, we’re sure, have already heard the bad news, we will be closing in the coming weeks.”
The post, which did not specify a closing date, thanked loyal customers and announced a store-wide sale of 15% off.
The beloved market was bought by partners Brad Bryan and Dex Sedwick in late 2007, according to archival Times-Gazette articles.
Bryan, when reached by phone, declined to comment, and efforts to reach Sedwick failed. The store’s manager declined to comment.
‘A sad day in Ashland’
Cleveland Avenue Market — known locally for its quality meats, prepared pizzas and lunches — experienced a steady stream of regular customers on Thursday’s wintry morning.
Phil Deppert, of Ashland, walked out with a chocolate milk, donuts and a few scratch-offs. He said he’s been a customer for 50 years.
“The lunches here are really good,” he said. “When I used to work for the city, they’d be sold out (of lunches) by 10:30 (a.m.).
“It makes me feel sick,” Deppert said, adding he hopes someone else steps in to save the market.
Another customer, Carissa Groscost, 35, said she comes to the store to buy meat.
“And the owner will order pop that’s hard to find at Walmart,” she said.
Groscost reminisced in the parking lot on her way back home from picking up a few things.
“I grew up on Fourth Street, so when I was younger we were always here. And we delivered papers on Cleveland Ave., so we’d come down here and get a pop,” Groscost said.
One man, who only identified himself as Ron from Rowsburg, was greeted by an employee as he spoke to our reporter in the parking lot.
“That’s a friendly cashier right there. People know me when I come in here. They greet me, they say ‘hi’ to you. Good people — it’s a shame,” he said.
Ron said he comes to Cleveland Avenue Market every day, typically to buy beer, cigarettes and meat.
“It’s a sad day in Ashland, man,” he said. “All these mom and pop shops, ain’t no more.”
When asked where he’ll go once the market closes, he said he didn’t know.
“I ain’t going to Walmart, that’s for damn sure,” said Ron.
An Ashland landmark
Sedwick and Bryan, who also owns O’Bryan’s Pub on Claremont Avenue, bought the market from Bill and Pam Leech in late 2007. The store had sat vacant since January 2007, when the former owners declared bankruptcy.
At the time, Bryan and Sedwick gave the building a facelift inside and out — new paint, new cooler doors and shelving units, and a repaired meat cooler. They also updated the cash register and repaved the parking lot.
“We thought it was a good investment,” Bryan said in a Times-Gazette article published in September 2007. “We also thought the town was missing something. It’s close to a landmark.”
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller, who said he has often bought rib eye steaks and pizza from the market, said he and everyone in Ashland will miss the local shop.
“The market has been such a big part of our city’s history,” he said. “When you talk about landmarks, they’re definitely one of them.”