After 100 Years, Beit Brothers Supermarket Closes Uncasville, CT Store and Ends Family Tradition

A lightening strike, competition, and a poor economy have led management of Beit Brother Supermarket, an independent grocer since 1908 which earlier this year celebrated its centennial anniversary, to call it quits.

According to The Day, what began as a meat market in Norwich by Samuel Beit and his three sons later blossomed into a chain that one time had seven markets in eastern Connecticut.

Some of those markets were located in Norwich, New London, Niantic, Groton, Old Saybrook, Dayville (a section of Killingly), and Uncasville (a section of Montville). In fact, its first location was on North Thames Street in Norwich.

While many of those markets closed, the Dayville and Uncasville locations have been mainstays for decades.

The Norwich Bulletin reported that this past July, Beit Brothers closed their Dayville location after being a town mainstay for 36 years.

Their store was located at 734 Hartford Pike, also known as Route 101, in a formerly bustling shopping center that was home to an Ames Department Store, an ice cream shop and a craft store.

The Bulletin reported that forty full-time and part-time employees lost their jobs as a result of that closure and several customers admitted that the number of customers visiting the store had decreased over the years.

The Beit Family said that that the lease was about ready to expire for the store.

In a feature article written by this reporter printed on the front page of the Montville Times newspaper in April 2005, Eric said that the Dayville store was located across the street from an A&P Supermarket which had closed and later reopened as a Super Stop and Shop.

Eric said that many A&P loyal shoppers did not continue to shop at Super Stop and Shop but took their business across the street to Beit Brothers.

However, I noticed that shortly before the Dayville store closed, Super Stop and Shop opened a brand new larger grocery store at the new Killingly Commons Shopping Center.

The center is anchored by Target, Lowe's Home Improvement, Bed Bath and Beyond, Michael's Arts and Crafts, and T.J. Maxx.

A press release on the Beit Brothers Web site, stated that the Dayville store closure would allow the grocer to concentrate solely on their Uncasville supermarket.

On Oct. 30, 2008, the third generation of owners, Nathan and Arthur Beit announced on the website that the Uncasville store at 601 Norwich Turnpike, also known as Route 32, would soon close ending the family's grocery legacy.

The Day reported that sixty-one full-time and part-time employees will lose jobs as a result of the store's closure which is expected to happen by the end of this year.

Several customers expressed shock and sadness to The Day that their independent grocery store would be closing.

A customer also indicated that they believe the closure is not the fault of management of the store and was directly the result of factors beyond the control of the Beit family.

The Bulletin reported that Beit Brothers had a reputation of giving back to its local community especially though the Lions Club.

In previous years, I remember that Beit Brothers allowed the Lions Club to sell Christmas trees in their parking lot as part of the organization's major fundraiser.

They have served Uncasville customers since 1961 and the store underwent several renovations and even an expansion taking over a former hardware store. Previously, the store had a child daycare service and a video and DVD rental service.

Eric said the store originally was opened by his grandfather, Seymour Beit.

Currently, other tenants in the Midway Shopping Center include Rite Aid Pharmacy, James Laundromat, Charter Oak Federal Credit Union, an independent package store, and a vacant space formerly occupied by a Chinese restaurant.

The Bulletin reported that Mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz indicated the shopping center's owner may have located a new tenant for the space but was unable to offer details.

The closure comes months after Beit Brothers management was forced to throw away perishable foods in July after a lightening strike hit the shopping center's power transformer.

These foods included meats, frozen foods, and all dairy and deli products.

The grocer worked closely with the Uncas District Health Department during the incident but the significant loss of food and lack of insurance to cover the losses contributed to the market's demise, the press release on the Beit Brothers website stated.

The press release also stated that Beit Brothers was getting hurt by increasing competition from big-box supermarkets along with rising energy costs.

While some point to rival big-box grocery store Super Stop and Shop, which opened a store at the new Montville Commons Shopping Center at the other end of town in 2006, store manager Eric Beit explained to the Bulletin that competition has always been an issue.

Montville Commons Shopping Center features Super Stop and Shop alongside anchor Home Depot.

Locally, Beit Brothers competed with three large big-box supermarkets in nearby Norwich.

They included a Shop Rite which is anchored with T.J. Maxx, a Super Stop and Shop at the Norwichtown Mall, and a Big Y Supermarket which is anchored with Wal-Mart.

After Beit Brothers closes, it will mean the Town of Montville will only have one remaining grocery store, Super Stop and Shop.

Eric told this reporter that the store's success in 2005 came from its uniqueness.

"The niche is that it is a small, local store. People don't have to walk five miles in the store to find what they want. You can come in to see the owner and spend money in an independent store, which helps out someone in your community. The money does not go to a chain," Eric said.

At that time, Eric said the Uncasville store was larger than its sister Dayville location and featured a full-line of products including produce, deli, bakery, rotisserie chickens, and a full meat department as well as an entire grocery line along with dairy, floral, seafood, frozen foods, international foods, natural foods, health and beauty aids, pet supplies, school supplies, and baby supplies.

When asked by several shoppers at that time, many explained that they chose to shop at Beit Brothers Supermarket over big-box grocers for a number of reasons including fresh produce, a clean and neat store, friendly associates, convenience, and the fact that it was a family store.

Eric was never concerned about Super Stop and Shop's opening in Montville stating that in order to remain competitive, Beit Brothers would increase customer service training for associates, have competitive pricing, and honor customer requests.

The store already rolled out a Beit Brothers Preferred Perks Program discount card allowing customers to receive the various sales announced in the weekly sales flyer at the register.

The card worked similar to other grocery discount cards.

At that time, Eric was quoted as saying, "I feel independent grocery stores will continue offering unique, individual service to our customers. I think the competition is tough but there is still plenty of room for an aggressive independent."

Whether other independent grocers will be able to ride out the wave of a weakening economy and increased competition from big-box stores remains to be seen.

Arthur Beit told The Day that this is definately the end of the family business.

In Connecticut's New London County, other independent grocers forced to close due to increasing competition include the Better Val-u Supermarkets in Voluntown and Ledyard.

The Bulletin reported that Eric saw signs of other businesses closing but did not expect that Beit Brothers would be forced to close due to declining economic conditions.