LYCOMING COUNTY, Pa. — "Thanks for 43 years" is on a sign outside the Ben Franklin store in Muncy Creek Township. The craft store will be closing its doors sometime in June.
"We had a combination of a general store with a pharmacy, a lot of general merchandise, and over the years, we expanded the store. We were able to increase the size of the departments based upon what the customers wanted," said Gary Peck, owner of Ben Franklin.
After owning the store for 43 years, Peck decided it was time for retirement. He was a pharmacist and recently closed his pharmacy called Townville Ben Franklin a few months ago.
"After 56 years of working in retail, it's time to take a break and enjoy the grandkids and different things like that," said Peck.
Peck tells Newswatch that 16 customers from northeastern and central Pennsylvania would come to the craft store.
"They knew what they wanted. They wanted quality, so if you look at the fabric that we have here, I mean, it was good quality fabric, so that's what the customers were really looking for. So that's what we gave them," said Peck.
"The fabric selection is awesome. I've come here with my quilting group from the Faith United Methodist Church, and we've bought a lot of fabric here for our prayer quilting ministry," said Lisa Schwartz of Bellefonte.
Peck shares what he will miss the most about owning the store.
"The customers and the employees, it's a people business, retail, and that's going to be the biggest thing I'm going to miss, but I've had fun."
Peck is currently discussing with some people interested in purchasing the property and is unsure what will replace the craft store.