Staff photo / Chris McBride Deli worker DeDe Rivers, of Warren, prepares an order for Melissa Robertson, also of Warren, at the Parkman Road Sparkle Market on Monday afternoon. Store Owner Tony Modarelli said 29 employees, mostly from the Warren area, will lose work before July 4 when the store closes.

WARREN — The Parkman Road Sparkle Market will shut its doors after three decades of serving the community.

Store owner Tony Modarelli cited declining sales and rising competition, along with utility costs as the final blows to the family-owned grocery store. The store, known for its fresh meat, produce and in-house butchers and deli, has reduced its inventory to 25% off and aims to close before the Fourth of July, depending on how quickly remaining stock sells.

Modarelli, who has run the full-service market for 30 years, said the store has been grappling with economic challenges for two years.

“We hoped it was short-term, but this down period is lasting longer than we anticipated,” he said.

A three-year agreement with an electric supply company locked in a 20% rate hike, adding to the financial strain. Competition from big-box retailers like Meijer, Walmart, Aldi and even dollar stores has chipped away at revenue, with Modarelli estimating a $3,000 to $4,000 loss for every new dollar store that opens nearby.

He said the closure will impact 29 employees, mostly from the Warren area, who are part of a fully unionized workforce with pensions and benefits.

“It’s hard to compete when you’re paying for benefits and the other guy isn’t,” Modarelli said.

Modarelli added the closure will leave a void on Warren’s west side, where no other full-service grocery store exists.

“They pop up — dollar stores, convenience shops — but they don’t last long. They’re fine, but you’re not getting the full service of a grocery store,” he said.

For loyal customers, the news has been met with grief.

Christie Mitchell, a Sixth Ward resident, who was shopping with family on Monday, said they’ve shopped at Sparkle Market their entire lives, calling it “a staple in the neighborhood.”

She talked about its accessibility for seniors in nearby high-rise apartments, many who are without transportation to reach stores like Meijer or Walmart.

“The prices are good, the quality’s good. They make their own sausage, sweet sausage, Italian sausage. You can’t get that fresh elsewhere,” Mitchell said. “Where do they go now?”

Georgann Hollender of Leavittsburg, who has shopped at the location for 34 years, praised its closeness and sense of community.

“The meat department was great, the people were so nice,” she said.

When the store closes, she plans to shop at Giant Eagle or Save A Lot in Champion, though neither feels as convenient she said.

Modarelli said the store played a role in the community, from sponsoring baseball teams to donating to local causes.

“Support your local grocery store. If you like it, skip that trip to Walmart and spend some time here,” he said.

Modarelli’s Sparkle Market on South Avenue in Boardman also closed recently. He also owns the store in Brookfield, but it remains open.