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Customers bemoan closing of Citrus Country Groves in Pinellas County

ABC Action News – April 18, 2011

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – The shelves are empty, the racks are bare; and soon, a slice of old Florida will be lost forever. Two Citrus Country Groves locations in Pinellas County will be closing for good early next week.

Customers are upset. Irene Jones is “very disappointed. I’ve been coming here for thirteen years.”

Zack Lockwood said, “This is the best ice cream on the planet.”

Over sixty years ago, when citrus was king, people began to flock to these stores once known as Orange Blossom Groves. Over the years, the Seminole and Clearwater locations were like a magnet for those seeking freshly-squeezed orange juice and the signature orange ice cream.

Bill McCauley said, “For so, so many years we’ve been coming here. I just hate to see it shut down. Its emotional, brings a tear to your eye.”

Although there is still fresh produce available, it’s the juice and ice cream that has people mourning the loss of these stores.

Barbara Huttig said, “It’s like a funeral to me because it’s the end of an era. That is very sad. It was a very popular place. I think everybody in here probably feels the same way.”

Sadly, long-time customer Marcel Laroche didn’t know about the closing. “Wow, that’s something. What are we going to do? Where are we going to go? This is the place for Florida. This is orange place, oh my gosh, this is my favorite store.”

Though the end is near for these old Florida citrus centers, some have found happiness in their final visits, including Ruth Adams, who said, “Things are changing in Florida, but we have to try and remember what we can and will move on.”

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