Ron Queen confirmed today (April 1) that the Hillsboro Queen’s Supermarket, 10724 Business 21, is in the process of closing, while the Pevely Queen’s Supermarket closed a couple of weeks ago.
“(The Hillsboro Queen’s) will be open through tomorrow (April 2) and should be closed by Sunday (April 3),” said Queen, 78, of Festus, owner of the business. “I bought (the stores) in 1999,” he said. “My brother, I believe, bought them in ’78. I think the owner before him opened them in the ‘60s.”
He said his family closed its Pacific Queen’s and its De Soto Cash Saver grocery stores last year.
“I feel like we’re the mom and pop store of 50 years ago,” Queen said. “It’s hard to keep up with the Walmarts and the dollar stores.”
He said his family rents the buildings and he does not know what the landlord will do with them once the grocery stores close.
Queen’s son, Ron “Buzz” Queen Jr., said the Pevely location employed “about eight” people and the Hillsboro location has employed “about 16.”
Officials from Hillsboro and Pevely said they regret the loss of the grocery stores.
While food items can be found at convenience stores and other general stores in both cities, the Queen’s Supermarkets were the only grocery stores in those towns, officials said
“(The Queen’s closure) will adversely impact the city,” Hillsboro City Administrator Gery Marmaduke said. “Customers will have to travel longer distances to buy groceries. It, obviously, will be a loss in sales taxes.”
Pevely Ward 1 Alderman Steve Markus said the loss of the Pevely Queen’s will have a similar effect on his city.
“There will be no place to buy groceries in Pevely,” he said. “With the taxes, it’s going to have an impact, certainly.”