The Village Market is going out of business on Jan. 22.

The town of Goshen will lose its only grocery store when The Village Market goes out of business on Jan. 22.  For decades, the store has been a favorite pit stop for locals and visitors traveling Route 4 between Cornwall and Torrington.

“The economy killed me,” owner Theresa Gale said Thursday.  She bought the store in 2003 after working for the previous owner for about a year.  Business started to decline about 18 months ago.

“The summers would always pull you through the winters,” Gale said.  “But this last year, it didn’t happen.”  Last summer’s cold, wet weather and the poor economy caused a drop in visitors to area lakes.

As business dwindled, Gale cut her staff from 11 people to two.  In November, the store began closing at 3 p.m. instead of 7 p.m.  Gale decided to close the business after trying to sell it for more than year.

Donna Hoyt works as a gardener at the Torrington Country Club.

“We all come here for lunch every day,” she said.  Hoyt enjoyed the market’s hot dishes, especially Gale’s fried chicken.  “It’s the best,” Hoyt said.

Hoyt has been coming to the store at least five days a week for the past eight years.

“It’s like a little family in town,” she said.

Twice this week, Hoyt purchased large quantities of pantry items to help Gale reduce inventory. Gale plans to donate unsold inventory to the Torrington Soup Kitchen.

“She’s got a heart of gold,” Hoyt said.

Theresa Gale waits on a customer Thursday.

Gale said she will miss her customers and their camaraderie throughout the day.
“The people up here have been wonderful,” she said.

For the last six years, Gale has worked at the store at least 75 hours a week. She cooked all the store’s hot dishes.  Now, she admits, “I’m tired on top of everything else.”  Gale will have time off until March, when she starts work at a new convenience store in Harwinton. 

Liza Vielleux of Norfolk has worked at the market for the past six years.  She is still looking for a new job.

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