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Bargain hunters stalk U-Save for the last time

The grocery at 3722 Henderson Blvd. goes out with a 25 percent markdown. "I hate to see them close," one shopper says.

GOLFVIEW - Shoppers combed half-full aisles at U-Save Super Market on Tuesday looking for last-chance bargains.

The full-sized grocery, at 3722 Henderson Blvd., closed its doors for the final time this week.

A sign at the entrance announced the final sale: Everything 25 percent off.

B&B Corporate Holdings Inc., based in Tampa, operates about a dozen U-Save stores in Florida, as well as about 24 Handy Foods convenience stores in the Tampa area.

Officials there did not respond to several messages seeking comment.

The Henderson store had enticed customers with close parking and covered walkways, along with discount prices.

Good prices on fruit drew Roma Passavant, 87, who had shopped at the store since it opened, she said.

"I hate to see them close," she said Tuesday as she stocked up on canning lids for her homemade guava butter.

Many residents depended on the U-Save for its proximity to their homes.

Bonnie Edmond, who lives nearby and had shopped at the store for 10 years, said she appreciated the friendly employees.

Edmond had piled discounted toy cars, gorillas and bubbles in her cart to use as prizes for Bible school at Manhattan Baptist Church.

Her husband, Ed Edmond, figures the store was hurt by the closing of the Eckerd drugstore next door.

"People want to be able to pick up their prescriptions while they shop," he said.