A well-known grocery store in downtown Lehighton has been sold.

Despite the sale, Mallard Markets will continue to operate under the same name as it has since 2002.One key element that will be missing, however, is owner Frank Kuhn, known to many as not only the face of the store, but also its voice.After 14 years, Kuhn has decided to sell the store at 161 S. Second St.Much to his delight, Kuhn said the store will keep its same name, and its 30 employees - 10 full-timers and 20 part-timers - will be retained."When I was considering selling the store, my number one concern was that my employees will be taken care of," Kuhn said. "Everything is intact."Kuhn, whose last day will be today,said the decision to sell the store was emotional, as he's been in retail since he was 16 years old."It's bittersweet," Kuhn said. "Mallard Markets, to me, is my baby; I've had it for 14 years."Kuhn touted the building's history, noting that it's served as a grocery store since around 1952, when it was Genetti's Grocery store."My biggest thing that I am going to miss is the interaction with my customers and my employees," he said. "It's a community market, and I'm recognized as the face and voice of it."Kuhn said the store attracts customers not only from the Lehighton area, but also Jim Thorpe and Palmerton as well."It became this well-rounded grocery store, and it meant the world to me," he said. "It's been a wonderful journey, one that is really hard to say goodbye."Come Sunday, Kuhn said the new owner, Karan Patel, of Allentown, will take over the reins."They're a great family," he said. "They're enthusiastic."Patel, 24, graduated from Penn State with a major in business management.He said he will look to his father to provide guidance, as he has a similar business in the Lehigh Valley."When I was young, I grew up helping him out, learning management," Karan said. "That's when the decision was made that I should get into management. The opportunity came, and here we are."He added, "I will use his experience and his knowledge. He will act as the consultant, and where he lacks, I'll fill in, and we'll work hand-in-hand."Karan said that while he isn't overly familiar with the area, he plans to learn the demographic, along with the demand that the area has "to fulfill the customers' needs in different ways than Frank already does.""He (Kuhn) takes care of the people really well," he said. "I want to learn the area, learn the community, stay as strong and firm with customer service as he's been doing the past 14 years."Karan confirmed that the market will retain its name and employees."Everything is carrying forward," he said. "Simply he (Kuhn) resigned, and I am the new face of Mallard Markets."Karan said it was important for him to know that Kuhn thought highly of him to sell him the store."He wanted to make sure that I have a good background, and have the potential to see what he did and what he created because this has been his life, this is what he established," he said. "I'm very excited, anxious."Karan added, "it's a new chapter in my life. It's a career I'm looking forward to, and want to continue what Frank started."