A fourth-generation family farm and shop in New Jersey is closing its doors after more than 90 years in business as it makes way for a new Wegmans supermarket and shopping center.
The DePiero family reluctantly sold 28 acres of their land in Montvale to developers, who are planning to build a large shopping center with a Wegmans.
"Our utility bill is $20,000 a month in this building and we can't sell vegetables to cover those expenses so this is why we have to give it up," said business co-owner Elaine DePiero.
Her husband Ed Piero grew up on the farm after his father Dante started it more than 90 years ago. The couple has run the business ever since they got married 64 years ago but the numbers no longer add up.
"It's a hard thing to leave," said Ed DePiero.
Granddaughter Kendall Sue Aurichio, part of the fourth generation of the family to work at the farm and store, could barely hold back tears as she said, "Not seeing my family every day, that's a big thing for me."
Customer Bill Pellegrini said it's a "great loss."
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"It's not just strangers waiting on you," he said. "It's a family you know and that you have always relied on."
Loyal customers, even the youngest ones, can't imagine shopping for food anywhere else.
"I'm really sad, because I'm going to miss the animals," said 4-year-old Riley Butler.
The family-owned farm is the latest in Bergen County to close, following The Farm in Closer, D'Angelo's in Dumont, D'Ercole's in Norwood and Willow Run in Cresskill.
Ed and Elaine DePiero say they'll use their free time to travel and to spend time with their family, which includes five children, 24 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, many of whom work at the store.
Not everything is disappearing: part of the DePiero family business will remain open, like their wholesale plant business. More than 35,000 poinsettias are stored in a greenhouse, ready to be sold between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
