NILES — Signs posted throughout the building were abrupt — store coupons voided, 30% off food (tobacco products excluded) and no checks.

With its closing announced at the start of the year, Sparkle Market customers depleted shelves, freezers and displays making for limited selections by the end of Wednesday’s business day when Sparkle ended an approximately 45-year run in the city’s downtown.

While the store’s customers may suffer in the short-term, the closure could have ramifications for Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz and the city’s revitalization effort.

“We’re devastated,” Mientkiewicz said. “It was a staple, and it conformed with everything we were trying to do to revitalize downtown. It’s quite the blow to the city of Niles.”

Peter J. “Mr. G.” Gelsomino opened Sparkle at the 140 N. Main St. location in the early 1980s. The family continued to oversee operations following his death in 2013 until its recent sale to the Furrie-Vitullo Sparkle Market ownership group a couple of years ago.

Two phone calls to group president Vincent J. Furrie requesting comment were not returned.

A person answering the phone at the Niles market, who identified herself “as the person who takes care of bills,” said 15 people lost their jobs. According to Niles zoning department records, Sparkle ownership spent $400,000 since 2022 for building improvements.

Sparkle’s departure will not hamper residents’ grocery choices.

“We are not a food desert,” Mientkiewicz said. “We have a handful of quality grocery stores in the city of Niles and surrounding the city of Niles. It is a niche store. It is a store specific to certain clientele that may not be shopping at Giant Eagle, or Marc’s or Meijer.”

Mientkiewicz said he has spoken with the store’s ownership but could not release details except to say the property will be listed for sale. The city also is assessing losses in tax revenue.

“We hope that another grocery store is willing to take a shot in downtown Niles,” he said. “If that doesn’t happen, we hope for a quick turnaround.”

The city has sought aggressively to revitalize itself. Demolition of the Niles Times building, along with the former downtown movie theater and adjoining commercial building have opened the downtown space. Improvements through state and federal funding are ongoing.

In October, the Furrie-Vitullo group closed its Craig Beach Sparkle market. Earlier, it ceased operations in Union Township, Lawrence County, Pa., in January 2024 and Lisbon in October 2020. Other stores the group operates are in Cornersburg, Salem, Columbiana and Boardman.

The group addressed the Craig Beach closure in a social media post.

“Over the past few years, sales have decreased significantly since the opening of dollar / convenience stores in the area due to the elected officials allowing them to be within five minutes of our location,” the post read. “The pandemic of 2020 hasn’t been kind to local business still four years later with most companies being short-staffed and reduced hours.

Bottom line is we cannot continue on this path.”