MARSHALL – The self-proclaimed “Friendliest Store in Town” is closing its doors.

Lonny Serreyn, manager of the County Fair Food Store in Marshall, confirmed Friday the supermarket that has been open in Marshall for 11 years will close its doors after all the inventory is cleared out.

County Fair Food Store President John Clarke told the Independent that business had tailed off in the last two years in what has grown into a highly competitive market.

“It’s a very competitive market,” he said. “There’s strong competition in Marshall. That’s just the way it is in our industry. We weren’t able to attract enough business to be profitable the last two years. We decided to focus our attention on our other stores.”

Marshall’s County Fair employs 44 people. Clarke said all employees will be offered a severance package and perhaps have the opportunity to transfer to another location. There are three other County Fair supermarkets, all in South Dakota – two in Mitchell and one in Dell Rapids.

Clarke said the Marshall store will remain open for approximately four to six weeks, depending on how long it takes to clear out inventory. He said a discount sale will start next week.

“I want to thank all our loyal customers and the employees over the years we’ve been there,” he said. “The biggest concern we have right now going forward is we want to make sure they can go on with their careers. We hope they’re given an opportunity.”

Clarke said road construction in past years around County Fair cost the store customers it was really never able to get back.

“They were working on all roads leading into the area we’re located, and there was a disruption in the traffic pattern,” he said. “That affected our business. The customers we lost during road construction, we didn’t get enough of them back.”

County Fair is headquartered in Mitchell.