After 55 years on the corner of Main and North Jackson streets in Evans City, Viola’s Market closed its doors in late July.

Frank Viola began running the full-service supermarket in 1988 after his late uncle, Rocco Viola Sr., opened the store in 1964.

He said he was retiring and planned to close up shop. Other family members were not interested in running it, he said.

“It’s a very bittersweet decision,” Viola said. “I’m going to miss the people. The town has been very good to us, but in the same breath, I’m ready to spend time with my family and slow down a little bit.”

Lee Dyer, president of Evans City Borough Council, said the council was saddened by news of the losing Viola’s, the town’s only grocery store.

“Several months ago, they closed for 24 hours because of a structural issue, and I thought the town was going to explode,” Dyer said. “There were people standing outside wondering when they would reopen.”

There is a convenience store in town where residents can buy bread, milk and other small items, but residents now have to go to Zelienople, Butler or Cranberry Township for groceries.

The Butler County Housing Authority pays for a Butler Area Rural Transit bus to take President’s Square residents to Cranberry Township to shop twice a month. The bus normally stops at Giant Eagle or Walmart.