Oakland Twp. business closing its doors
OAKLAND TWP — After more than seven decades in business, one Oakland Township family is shutting down a variety and convenience store at the end of the month.
Neff's Country Mart, 1141 Bonniebrook Road, which offers DVDs, groceries, drinks, novelty ice cream and other items will close its doors Nov. 30.
Owner and operator Carol Neff Tomasovic said business dropped off with the opening of nearby retail outlets and movie sales and rentals fell due to rental kiosks and online streaming. Tomasovic said she will focus her labors on her tax preparation business, Neff's Tax Services.
“I've worked three jobs all my life,” she said. “It's time to slow down. It's had a good run, but times have changed and little ma-and-pa stores aren't around anymore.”
She said the store celebrated Black Friday by marking nearly all products down 50 percent.
The store, which used to be called “Shorts” and housed a small gas station, has been open for 73 years. It was founded in 1944, and was run by her great aunt and uncle, Louise and Jack Weiland, who offered penny candy, ice cream and other items. Tomasovic purchased the location in 1990, she said.
“It came from generations,” she said.
Later the family added a movie rental component to the business and removed the gas pump.
Tomasovic said she and her family lived next door to the shop, and helped in the store from an early age. When given the opportunity, she wanted to keep the business in the family.
“We all helped her (Louise) in the store as we were growing up,” she said. “We all worked there at one time or another.”Her brother John Neff, who has since died, was a big part of the store atmosphere, she said, helping run the location for many years.Tomasovic said she purchased the store along with John and their mother, Madeline Neff.She thanked all the customers who stepped foot through the door over the years, saying, “I just appreciate them so much for all these years coming in. I just want to thank everybody and that I appreciated their business.”The building, which Tomasovic said will be put up for sale, also includes an attached apartment where her great aunt and uncle used to live.Madeline Neff, who is now 92, has worked in the store for many years.“It is really sad for me to do this,” Tomasovic said. “It is really hard for my mom and I because that was our life. My mother loves being over there and spending time with the customers talking and she is really going to miss it.”
