For 17 years, Doyle's Fresh Meat and Deli on East Taggart Street in East Palestine has been a thriving and popular small business.

"It's absolutely the best, never had a bad piece of meat from here and the people here are just so wonderful," Norma Price said.

"These kind of markets are hard to find," Rich Kaufman said.

"We were awful close to doing a million dollars in sales in this building here last year," Duane Doyle said. "I mean we've definitely been on a roll."

That roll has really slowed down though since the train derailment two months ago and now the deli is in danger of going out of business.

"Since the derailment, people are afraid to come to town," Doyle said. "It's not so much the people from within the community, it's the outside community that used to shop here. People are afraid because of the uncertainty."

Duane Doyle, who owns the deli, says he's been considering retirement for the last two years and had a deal in place to sell the business where it would continue to serve the East Palestine community.

That deal fell apart though following the derailment.

"That to me is my biggest disappointment is the fact that we may have to end up having to completely liquidate and sell out and this community has lost a service that was needed."

While the shop is currently for sale, it will go up for auction as a turnkey business in the middle of May.

Even then, there are no promises anyone will buy it.

"I hate to see them go because he's been here for so long and it was a boom when it came here for our little city it was great and he did very well here in this little city," Price said.

"Worst thing that could happen to this town is lose such a wonderful store like this," Kaufman said. "This is something this town has always needed and you don't find too many of these anymore."

For meat cutter Rich Kaufman, working at Doyle's was more than just a job. 

"I go home every night and I can say, you know, I help put food on people's tables and that is a pride within itself, that is what I love about this place and this job," Kaufman said. 

Employees like Kaufman and customers like Norma Price are holding out hope the business can stay open. 

"There ain't nothing more I would want to see somebody take over with me here helping out and serving this community to its fullest," Kaufman said. 

"I'm going to miss them terribly, it is very sad, very sad and something else that we are losing in our town for right now and hopefully somebody else will come in," Price said. 

After 50 plus years in business, Doyle says he's just ready to move on with his life and spend more time with family.

"There is no doubt in my mind that things in this community will turn around and if I wasn't 68 years old, I would stay here to be with them," Doyle said. "As much as I have enjoyed my work, time is fleeing. We only have so many days between the first day and the last one and you try to put as many good days as you can and I just would like to spend some time doing what I want to do."

For now, Doyle's Meat and Deli remains open and they will continue to offer weekly specials, special meat packs and cases of chicken. He wants to thank everyone for their support and business over the past 17 years.