FOREST PARK (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Ed's Way, a corner, neighborhood, family-owned grocery store in west suburban Forest Park, is closing after decades in business.
“We’ve been here for 33 years, and we’re coming to the end,” said Ed Nutley, the Ed behind Ed’s Way.
The store has been a neighborhood staple in Forest Park. Before the Nutley family, the store had other owners for several decades, so really, it has been around seemingly forever. But, now, the shelves are being cleared, and it’s time to say goodbye.
“Number one, the overhead has gotten too much, the volume, [we] couldn’t take care of it. And, beside that, we’re going to retire,” said Nutley.
Mike Nutley, one of the store's co-owners, said it’s not easy for neighborhood places to compete with corporate America.
“In the small business world, it just seems like you’re constantly crippled, Mike said. “Higher real estate taxes, the cost of products and fees, delivery charges, and it just keeps tacking on, eating away at your profits.”
Ed's daughter, Karen Hinz, is ready to close the cash register.
“[I’m] excited for the new change, but still sad about leaving the people,” Karen said.
Karen added that Ed's was truly a dying breed, a neighborhood place.
“[It’s] more than just shopping here. It’s conversation, like, ‘I know you have a dog’ or ‘I know this guy is getting married…’ It’s not just, ‘thank you, have a nice day,’” Karen said.
Many longtime customers have been flocking to Ed's Way in recent weeks to say "thank you" and pick up a few final items.
Ed's Way will be closed by the end of the month and replaced by townhomes.
"A lot of us have depended on Ed's, and Ed is a very kind and generous person, as is the rest of his family, and we're going to miss them terribly," said loyal customer Debra Holdstein.
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