After 89 years on South Walnut Street, Slatington Beverage Inc., known to many as Galio’s Market, will close its doors.

“We’ve had people in here crying,” said co-owner Christy Haydt.

“They know us and come here. We know their stories, heartaches and tragedies. All little towns have their corner stores,” he said.

In 1929, Ray Meister opened the doors of market.

“It was ‘Meister’s Store,’ then and he added beer right after prohibition in 1934,” Haydt said.

The little corner market was sold to Henry Galio in 1946, who changed the name to “Galio’s Market,” the most commonly known moniker of the shop even after it was sold to Haydt and his brother Jim in 1992 and they renamed the store to Slatington Beverage Inc.

“We all still call it Galio’s though,” Haydt said.

“Henry bought it from Ray after World War II,” he said.

“Jimmy knew Henry and was already in retail all his life. He worked at the old Acme. One day Henry was ready to retire and sell the store,” said Haydt.

Both Haydt brothers operate the business with their wives, Bonnie and Vikki, respectively.

“It’s always been a family business,” he said.

“Henry’s wife, son and daughter worked here,” Haydt said.

After Jim and Christy bought the building, it took three employees to help keep the store running smoothly over the years.

Robert Stettner has been working at the market since 1983, while Anne Marie Scott has been the secretary since 1967.

“She told Jimmy she’d stay here only one year when he bought it, but she is still with us.”

The lifelong resident said, “When I was a kid we went to Dipp’s and Schaffers. But now they’re all gone. We can’t compete with the big guys. Convenience stores sell everything. Before neighborhood stores were ‘the stores,’ but now it’s tough.”

“We used to deliver beer and groceries. We went to the high-rise often. Elderly people don’t get out much, so we delivered to them,” he said.

Haydt plans to retire after the store closes at the end of June.

“I’m going to join my wife in retirement,” he said.

The building is going to be auctioned off. This week merchandise is marked down 25 percent off and the following week it will be marked down to 50 percent off.

“Anything left after that will go to the food bank,” Haydt said.

The shelves have steadily grown bare over the last few weeks.

According to Haydt, longtime customers have stopped in to share memories with the family since the news of the store’s closing reached borough residents.

“We are whittling it down already, but it gives everyone a chance to say goodbye,” he said.

“We’re not dying, just retiring,” Haydt said with laugh.

Haydt and his wife, Vikki, are planning to move south next year.

“I think it’s a law, when you retire you have to move to Florida. I’ll have to get some Hawaiian shirts,” he said.

Hours of operation are 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 7:30 a.m., to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, until the store closes on June 30.