By GRACE FINN ’28
Updated 11:50 a.m. EDT, 6 Nov 2026
Students and faculty of Houghton University (HU) have been abuzz ever since the Fillmore, NY, Shop ‘n Save reported their doors will soon close. Randy Ellis, the owner and manager of the Shop ‘n Save, is stepping down from his post to enjoy a well-deserved retirement with his family.
However, with no currently interested buyers, the reality of the store’s closing will impact the community’s access to fresh produce and nutrition. As the community looks to the future, it is important to remember the past and move forward.
Ellis described the store’s history as adjacent to his life. “I met my wife here, my children came here, and working here, running this place, has been my whole life.” Ellis has worked at the store for forty-three years, since he was a teenager and owned the business for twenty-three years. Customers of the business became more than visitors – they became family.
When asked about his time at the store, Ellis responded, “It went super-fast, I look back and wonder: where did the time go?”
The store’s historical significance and contributions to the community will be missed as residents search for possible future supermarkets in the area.
Several HU students have discussed possible outlets for the store’s closing since many residents cannot go further than Filmore, NY, to buy food for cooking. Braylee Himmler ‘28 explained, “It has definitely impacted the community’s access to produce.” Although the store is closing, Himmler described the sale as beneficial for HU students since several were able to buy food in mass supply to prepare for the closing.
Even as the store’s future hangs in balance, the community can look forward to future opportunities and possible new resources for fresh groceries. Several businesses have planned for the Shop ‘n Save’s closing and have reassured residents that local resources for produce are a priority. The Valley Bread and Bounty, also located in Fillmore, NY, has assured the local community, through Facebook, that their store will have several produce options to substitute for the loss of the Shop ‘n Save.
Sarah Sardina, the owner of Valley Bread and Bounty, empathized with the grocery store’s closing and the need for nutritional resources in the community, reflecting, “The ripple is not going to be just about my business. We feel a responsibility to the community as we have few options to begin with.” Sardina went on to describe the small businesses brainstorming the best way to accommodate the needs of the Fillmore community.
Valley Bread and Bounty plans to extend their hours and provide new products. The gift shop in the cafe will be transformed into a small market with produce and dairy, including eggs, shelf-stable produce, doughnuts and a mini–Cuba Cheese refrigerator. The gift shop will not disappear, but be rearranged into the neighboring local business The Wren and Nest.
Not only will the produce remain available, but Valley Bread and Bounty will employ several former workers of Shop ‘n Save to assist with the new merchandise and extended hours. Sardina added other local businesses, including Cold Creek Convenience and Deli, The Amish Store and Spring Bottom Farm, which are available to the local population in need of accessible produce.
Sardina said, “We cannot replace what the grocery store provided for the town. We are all trying to find a way to fill the gap.” Sardina remained hopeful for the future of the community and promised local businesses would provide fresh produce for all residents to the best of their ability.
The end of the era for the Shop ‘n Save sparked a new future in local businesses of the community. Even as the grocery store’s future remains in an uncertain balance, with little chance of reopening, the small business community is willing to step up and be a presence for residents who need nearby access to groceries and produce. Next time your cupboards are empty, take a trip to Valley Bread and Bounty, The Wren & Nest, Spring Bottom Farm, Cold Creek Convenience and The Amish Store, to satisfy your palate. ★
