CENTER TWP — Pat Green had been working for Boscov's for 12 years when she landed the manager's job at what was then the new store at the Clearview Mall in 1999.

She said she loved working for Boscov's, calling the company one big happy family.

Deciding to retire after a 32-year career was difficult, but she said she is now enjoying the Florida sun and is looking forward to spending more time with her daughter and grandchildren.

“My last day was May 17th. I'm sitting in Florida by the pool,” Green said Thursday evening.

She said the sale of her house in Butler closed that day.

A Bucks County native, Green was working as the manager of the Boscov's in Binghamton, N.Y., when she was selected to lead the newest store in Butler County.

“I've been the manager since it opened in October of '99. I got to see the iron go up,” Green said. “I've been with the company 32 years. I've been at stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.”

She said evidence of how well Boscov's treats its employees can be found in the Clearview Mall store.

At least 10 of the 24 department managers have worked there with her since the doors opened.

“I was blessed to have unbelievable people working with me. They are unique people in Butler. The work ethics are unbelievable. It's like I raised some of them,” Green said, adding that some of the managers were 18 or 19 years old when they started working there.

Working for Boscov's was like a family affair because, she said, the owners were so responsive.

“If you had a problem you could pick up the phone. If there was a tragedy, they were there for their people. They always had time to talk to you,” Green said. “They still give Christmas bonuses, which is unheard of. I don't think you have that in a lot of retail stores anymore.”

She said the company showed its appreciation of employees by providing insurance benefits to full and part-time staff members.

“Boscov's is truly like family. You feel like you're part of the Boscov family. It was very difficult to leave, but I decided it was time to be with my family,” Green said.

She said her daughter, who is also from Bucks County, and two of her three children live in Florida.

“I get to watch my grandkids graduate and watch their activities. I want to work with rescue dogs. That's my passion. I want to volunteer and do some things,” Green said. “As much as I'm happy to be retired, it's very hard to leave my friends and my Boscov's family.”

Her Boscov's family held two retirement parties for her.

Coworkers at the store held a party on May 4.

“We are a very close-knit group. We all love to cook. Everybody made food. They had spread like you wouldn't believe,” Green said.

Managers from stores in Johnstown, Altoona, Beaver, Erie and Ohio took her to dinner in Cranberry Township on May 5.

One of her neighbors also held a party for her.

“The people I've met in Butler are fabulous. The town is like Boscov's, they're very caring,” she said.

During her 20 years in Butler, Green was a member of the Butler PM Rotary, Butler Memorial Hospital board of directors and the United Way board of directors.

“The people are very giving and caring. The people in Rotary are fabulous,” Green said.

Dennis Baglier, Butler PM Rotary president, said Green was active in the organization for many years.

“She's a good person. She was involved with Rotary for many years and active. She involved Boscov's at events and Boscov's was very generous because of her involvement,” Baglier said. “She was very helpful and a good friend to a lot people who have been Rotarians for a lot of years.”