SOUTHINGTON — The customers coming in and out of Charlanne Farms Country Meats in Southington on Thursday said they were surprised and shocked that the 50-year community business will be closing on Tuesday.

The parking lot at the business off Warren Burton Road was filled Thursday afternoon as people had heard about the closing via Facebook and word of mouth.

Charles “Chuck” Plott, owner of Charlanne Farms Country Meats, said the last day the store will be open is Tuesday.

Plott said after nearly 50 years of being in business, it is time to close. Although, he did use the word “temporary” when responding to some customers who asked him if the store would open again.

“We appreciate the business we have had. We enjoyed taking care of the customers and seeing them. It’s time now to hang it up,” Plott said of himself and his family members who worked at the store.

Plott said that on Sunday the store had more than 750 customers as they purchased items for Christmas.

The property also has a large museum of farm equipment that Plott said has not determined what to do with yet.

“People can stop in the next few days and buy whatever we have available,” Plott said, noting they will be closed on Monday as they have always been.

Asked what he plans to do after the store closes, Plott said “I will still stay busy.”

Plott started the meat packing business in 1970 with the construction of a 30-by-40-foot butcher shop. Over the years, the business became one of the largest of its kind in the area.

In 1975, Charlanne Farms applied for and received State Inspected Service as a division of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, providing state-inspected meats for customers.

For generations, the Plott Homestead has been a working farm in the township.

Many customers said it was the nice variety of meat that drew them to the store.

Garrettsville resident Kim Burrows said she comes to the business at least once a month to get steak, rib-eye, chicken and other meats and was completely surprised by the news.

“I have a big clambake each year for the Garrettsville schools so I get all I need here. When I heard they were closing, I thought where am I going to get my chicken and meats. I didn’t even know they were closing until I came here today for my normal groceries. I thought what are all these people doing here. It seemed too early for New Year’s Eve shopping. They told me inside they are closing,” Burrows said.

Inside the store were long lines of people waiting to check out with their shopping carts filled.

Debbie Knsley of Warren said “We love this place. We come here for the meats and cheeses. We will miss it.”

Terri and Jim Housknecht said they drive from Conneaut to the store.

“We have come here for years and just found out yesterday on Facebook they are closing,” Terri Housknecht said.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com