C & C Food Outlet in Palmerton closing

“Please take one. You’ll need it.”

It’s a simple sign atop the baskets in front of C & C Food Outlet on Delaware Avenue in Palmerton, but it’s become synonymous with the little store. When the gorgeous flowers and plentiful produce displays outside the storefront drew people in, they were guaranteed a great deal.

Today, though, the C & C will shut its doors permanently.

Due to medical issues, owner Jim Bognar has decided that it’s about time to close up shop. It’s a difficult decision to make, Jim’s wife, Lorraine, said, especially since the market and produce sales were always a part of his life.

“Fifteen years we’ve been here,” Lorraine, who has been running the store, said.

“Before that, he was at the Mahoning Farmer’s Market. He’s been selling produce like that for his whole life.”

Celebrating their seventh anniversary in 2010, the Bognars spoke highly of their customers, who were practically family.

“We thrive on giving our customers and friends, the most and the best for their buck,” Bognar said at the time.

“Our customers become our friends. We want to thank them all for their patronage over the years.”

It was just this kind of service that attracted people to the little locally owned shop.

Lorraine said that as the days go on, she finds it harder and harder to think about the last day.

“People said they are going to miss us like crazy,” she said.

“I feel bad, because we cater to the high-rise, to the elderly people, because they can’t walk all the way down the street. They don’t have transportation.”

Many community members are already in mourning for their favorite little store on Delaware Avenue.

“They always had good summer produce and prices. They’ll be missed,” Audrey Sigley said.

“I love the pears, they where the best,” Missy Melissa said.

But the fond memories still prevail, as Lorraine recalls visitors swinging by and making the mistake of ignoring that prominent sign.

“And when people didn’t take it and they came in, they’d always say, ‘You know, that sign, that’s right, I should have took one.’ It’s true,” Bognar said with a laugh.

An auction is set to sell off the remaining store supplies on April 27.

While C & C is done for now, Bognar hasn’t given up hope completely.

“I’m 55 and he’s 58, so I’m thinking, we can’t quit yet. I’m hoping in a year or two, we’ll start again,” she said.