After 53 years in the family, Hake's Grocery Store in Conewago Twp. might soon be sold

Anthony J. Machcinski | York Daily Record

Show Caption Hide Caption Small-town Sue's Market gives back Sue Meyers, owner of Sue's Market in Wrightsville, knows well the challenges of running a small-town grocery. But, she says, "I just try my best and give back to the community as much as I can."

Rick Hake loves the customers who come into Hake’s Grocery Store in Conewago Township.

This isn’t the ordinary kind of love at a store – the kind where people say “hey, how’s the family” then leave. It’s more than that.

Hake has gone to the hospital or to the nursing home to visit some of the longtime customers. He remembers when the customers would bring their children in to let the children show off their Christmas toys.

“We’ve watched so many come and go,” Hake said. “I’ve known them most of my life. They grew up with us. I grew up with their children. I had some of their children working for me. It’s just how it is.”

But times have changed in the 53 years since his parents Richard and Esther Hake bought the grocery store. The customers that Hake grew up with are “dying out.” He quit reading the obituaries in the local papers some time ago.

“I got tired of seeing my customers in there,” Hake said. “It’s hard to look at that. It’s just the way it is. You can’t stop it. It’s part of age.”

Age, too, has started to catch up to Hake and his younger brother, Randy. The brothers split operating the store – Randy takes the mornings, Rick the nights. Randy often starts his day around 3 a.m. working on the milk and putting out the produce and stays until the afternoon. Rick starts at noon doesn’t leave until close to 2 a.m. after much of the store is set up for the next day. Rick can’t remember the last day off that he’s had – and that includes holidays.

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“When you work seven days a week… that’s getting to take a toll on our bodies,” Hake said. “I’m looking at 70 and that gets to be a little tough. I need a day off.”

Rick Hake might soon get that day off.

BAPS Auto Paints & Supply, headquartered in York, is in the process of acquiring Hake’s Grocery from the Hake estate. The company hopes to close on the property in late 2018.

Dean Berkheimer and Sharon Hogue, the brother and sister duo that owns BAPS, grew up only a few miles from the Dover store and were customers growing up.

“It was the only place to get groceries at that time,” Berkheimer said. “(It’s special because) generations after generations of families that go there. They go there because their parents did.”

Berkheimer first expressed interest in the property in June of 2017 when they realized it was on the market. Their hope is to keep it a family business that still sells the things Hake’s customers have come to expect.

The siblings said the following in a statement through the company:

“Regulars need not worry – Hake’s most popular offerings will stay. BAPS looks forward to keeping Hake’s a family-owned business that operates much as it always has. Even more than that, the family looks forward to having more opportunities to build stronger relationships with members of the community. This is the heart of BAPS that will continue for generations to come.”

BAPS currently operates eight retail stores in four states including Maryland and Pennsylvania. In 2017, the company purchased the naming rights of the former Susquehanna Speedway in Newberry Township. Hake’s would be the first grocery store they own.

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“We want to keep it a family business like it always has been,” Berkheimer said. “Whether we sell paint and sandpaper or potato chips, soda and meat, you sell products and you treat people they want to be treated.”

Even with the news of a potential buyer who wants to keep Hake’s a local business, Rick Hake still agonizes when the final day at his family’s store will come.

“We try to help (customers) as best as we can,” Hake said. “That’s why I dread getting out of here, but I have to go. It just has to be done. I’m not going to live forever. It’s been years since I have a day off, but I do enjoy it.”

Anthony J. Machcinski is the food reporter for the York Daily Record. Follow him on Facebook, @ChinskiTweets on Twitter or email him at amachcinski@ydr.com.

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