SPRINGFIELD - Dave's Soda and Pet City is closing its Carew Street store after 28 years of doing business there.

Dave Ratner, owner of the business, said the building at 1330 Carew St. is too big, too old and too inefficient.

"I just couldn't find a smaller space that had everything we need," Ratner said.

The businesses six other locations will remain open.

Ratner said the decision was a tough one. "I have never closed a store in 43 years, I have only opened stores," he said.

The Carew Street store will close on Jan. 13 and all of its employees have been offered positions in the other stores.

Ratner said a "huge portion" of the business in the Carew Street store involves his Dave's brand of dog food. Rocky's Ace Hardware store, "just around the corner" at 1381 Liberty St., will start offering that line next month.

Ratner said most of his inventory will be moved to the other stores. Some of it, however, will likely go on sale at the Carew Street store at 10 to 20 percent off as the closing approaches.

Ratner made the news in October of 2017 when he appeared at a White House executive order signing that undercut the Affordable Care Act.

A number of customers expressed anger and criticism over his attendance there. Ratner later said he didn't blame the customers and said he thought the event would be focused on helping small businesses and not rolling back the ACA.

Ratner, whom the National Retail Federation invited to White House ceremony, stressed that he and other small business owners at the event had no idea President Donald Trump would use the measure, which seeks to allow small businesses to purchase health insurance in groups and across state lines, as a way to undercut the ACA.

Ratner said Tuesday that the controversy had no bearing on his decision to close the Carew Street store.