IT IS the end of era for Wagga's Duffy Bros Fresh, which announced its doors will close for good after 34 years.
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The family-run store is set to shut up shop on January 24th says owners Frank and Tony Rositano, who will start a well-deserved retirement.
While they are sad to let the business go, Tony said the fruit and vegetable market was a rewarding experience that came with many memorable moments through the years.
The brothers moved to Wagga in 1986. Frank was a boiler by trade and Tony, an electrician, but they decided it was time for a career change.
"We grew up with commercial vegetable gardens, so we knew how things grow and ... we were made an offer we could not refuse," Tony said.
Both of them had young families, so moving away from the city life of Sydney was a decision they were happy to make.
"We are very pleased to have moved here with our families. Our children grew up here, went to school and university and off living their lives," Frank said.
"Now that we are retiring we get to spend more time with the grandchildren, we have nothing special planned other than living a normal life."
When Duffy Bros Fresh first opened on Blake Street - where it still stands today - Frank said they were one-of-kind, open seven days a week unlike most others.
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Franks said they easily rack up an 80 hour week each, but serving "the beautiful customers" of Wagga and the surrounding districts made the job enjoyable.
He said the store had "very loyal customers," some of who have been shopping with them from the beginning.
"We have developed relationships with our customers, who have become a big part of our lives, they are like family to us," Frank said.
"The customers are the thing we're going to miss the most."
Although Duffy Bros Fresh is closing its doors, its neighbours at the butchery next door will still be open for business.