It's not staffing issues or inflation... it's retirement calling.

Ed Anania Jr. has worked at Anania’s Variety Store on Congress Street in Portland, Maine for around 50 years, and it's time to take time.

Yelp - Joshua G
Yelp - Joshua G
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On Christmas Eve of 2024, the variety store with some of the best pizza and sandwiches will be closed permanently and the property and business will go up for sale.

Ed and Barbara Anania are also selling the Washington Avenue location to the manager Zach Lord.

Ed told the Press Herald,

"We just figured now is the time to retire. We’re both in our mid-60s, and I’m just getting tired. We’ve had a great run and can afford to retire."

What will happen to the Anania's location in Portland, Maine once it's sold?

Anania's -Your Neighborhood Store via Facebook
Anania's -Your Neighborhood Store via Facebook
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It's been such a staple in Portland, Maine on Congress Street for 61 years. At their current location since 1973. But once it's sold, it's hard to say.

Ed Anania Jr (Ed Anania Sr. opened the first store) would love to see it be a similar business. He told the Press Herald,

"We hope it’ll continue as a similar business, but we don’t know what the future is going to bring. To the right person, we’d let them keep the name, if I thought they were going to keep it up to my standards."

Why they chose the name Anania's for their variety/deli

I love this. On their website, they talk about immigrating to the United States and settling in Portland's 'Little Italy' area. So he called his new variety store "by the family name because people never knew how to pronounce the name and now they would."

Well done, we all know the name Anania's and will never forget what you brought to the city of Portland, Maine for so many decades. To a happy and healthy retirement!

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