Mahoning Valley - After 73 years of business, the Sparkle Market on South Avenue in Boardman near Youngstown's south side is closing its doors. One customer who's been going to the market for years said he was devastated.

“Sparkles has been here forever for us. So, it's really an inconvenience for us,” said Arbor Hughes of Youngstown.

While it's upsetting to many in the community, it's becoming the reality for many smaller grocery stores.

Kristin Mullins, Ohio Grocers Association president and CEO, said there are multiple reasons for these closures, including competition and rising prices.

The rising prices are stopping some customers from putting groceries in the cart. Mullins said while grocery prices are getting higher, the profits for stores are staying the same.

“It’s just unfortunately the economy and the supply chain issues and the labor issues,” said Mullins. 

Convenience stores often buy their products in bulk, meaning they often get a cheaper price from the manufacturer.

“The communities, right, they tend to sometimes go to those big box stores, leaving that smaller grocer, that community grocer, kind of in a tough spot. And some of them are forced to close,” said Mullins. “When you’re buying in that volume, they’re often given better prices from the manufacturers, and when that happens, then that leaves that small independent. You know, it forces them to charge a higher price just to cover their cost.”

Tony Modarelli, owner of the Sparkle on South Ave, said he had no choice but to close after he started losing business. 

“Right after COVID, sales patterns started changing. Fridays and Saturdays used to be our busy days and noticed that those days got a little slower, and as the years went on, you know, it just seemed like the business was fading away,” said Modarelli. 

Modarelli went on to say the community makes the biggest impact on smaller businesses.

“When you have a neighborhood store, you depend on customers shopping. Where the big guys, they just want the volume. They’ll come in there and they’ll give prices away to get you in the store that we can’t afford,” said Modarelli.

Modarelli and Mullins are asking communities to support the smaller grocery stores in the community.

“What they need from you is they need your loyalty. They need your support. They need you, when you just need some milk, go to the grocery store, don’t go to the convenience store,” said Mullins

The Sparkle market on South Avenue is expected to close mid June.