Two of the top stories in 2019 dealt with the growing number of food deserts in Butler County. A staple of downtown Mars for more than four decades under various names, Mars Supermarket closed in February. Following in July, the closure of Viola’s Market in Evans City added to the growing number empty storefronts. Mars and Evans City joined Butler, Chicora and Saxonburg on the list of county communities without full-service grocery stores.