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During its three years in operation, Ellsworth Grocery has offered fresh produce, deli selections, and lunch specials, but was forced to stock only convenience store items as sales began to decline.

Recording sales volume in December at 50 percent less than the previous year, store owners Joe and Patty Bushey have discounted remaining stock and plan to close the store when supplies run out. They expect to shut the door the second week of April.

The community will be affected in more ways than just losing a place to shop, according to Patty Bushey, who said the shrinking tax base will impact schools. One positive, though short-term effect, will be donations made to the Good Samaritan Society in Ellsworth of all unsold products.

Many local patrons stayed away from Ellsworth Grocery this winter, unlike past winters, according to Bushey.

"That's the frustrating part of it," she said. "I see other small towns supporting their local stores. Like Central Lake, East Jordan and Atwood who have more than one grocery. Their locals support them."

Customers that do frequent the store will be forced to shop in neighboring villages.

"Yes, we will miss this place," local resident Dudley Stevens said. "And we'll miss these people."

"They've worked hard to run this place," added Bruce Chellis, another faithful patron. "I've seen others come in here and hire 14 employees to run the place, but not Joe and Patty. The Busheys have done a lot for this town. If there was something that needed to be done, they pushed it, they promoted it."

Concerned about the accessibility of coffee in Ellsworth should the grocery shut its doors, Village Council Member Vince Olach suggested there was hope in reopening the Ellsworth Diner this summer, which recently closed, but with rising food and fuel costs, the community's supply of basic items like coffee may lie in other villages. The options for food are increasingly limited.

The Bushey's plan to move out of Michigan in search of work, possibly to Florida or Arizona, according to Patty Bushey.

"I've heard that some old-timers want Ellsworth to be a bedroom community," Bushey said. "Not interested in any business at all."

Realizing such attitudes may be hearsay, but beginning to question it, Bushey remains at a loss as to the reasons the local population was unable to support her business. Some residents living within sight of the store have never set foot inside, she said.

Chris Tredway can be reached at ctredway@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533-8523.