East Bay, RI
East Bay Newspapers
Friday, August 12, 2005
Their retirement is well deserved
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Edward and Anna Costa are finally hoing to get some days off. After 27 years of operating the popular Westport Fruit and Deli at 151 State Road, they have sold the business. Mr. Costa has been in the retail food business for more than 30 years. Four years before taking ownership of this business, he owned Michael's Provisions in New Bedford, specializing in producing Portuguese sausage.
A year after he sold his New Bedford store, he was approached by a good friend who wanted to sell his fruit business on State Road. Mr. Costa and his wife didn't think twice before purchasing it. Over the years, they added groceries, a deli and prepared food section, and a package store. Many customers didn't notice when they removed the wall separating the package store and the market six years ago. Both Costas are natives of San Miguel, Azores, Mr. Costa from the town of Ferreira when he was 19, Mrs. Costa from Furnas. It wasn't till they immigrated to Fall River that they met and later married.
WESTPORT FRUIT: "About a year after I sold Michael's in Fall River, a friend I'd known for years told me he was selling this place so I bought it. At first I didn't know much about the fruit business but after a while I learned what to do."
HARD WORK: "I used to work from 6 a.m. in the morning to 10 p.m. at night. It's been less lately but it's a seven days a week job. Sometimes I don't even have time to cut the grass at my own house and have to hire someone to do it! After 27 years here, I decided it was time to slow down."
CUSTOMERS: "My wife and I have great relationships with our customers and we're really grateful to them. I still have my friends but I'm going to miss the seeing our customers and talking to them every day."
CHANGES: "We sell more prepared food now than in earlier years. The old generation liked to cook more, the new generation doesn't seem to cook as much."
DECIDING TO SELL: "It really didn't take too long. I make decisions quick. If you think about something too long, you might change your mind!"
NEW OWNERS: "We're selling the business to two couples who will be living in the area. I'll stay for two weeks to teach them my way of doing business. After that, I'm not going to be putting my nose into their business. If I come in here after that, it will be as a customer."
END OF ERA: "My son Scott has been helping here for the past six years. But he has a master's degree in business and wants to go off on his own. I think he'd rather not work every day of the week, too."
REAL ESTATE: "We still lease property to the other businesses in the Plaza. I will be busy with watching out for them, too."
NEXT STEP: "I'm so used to working seven days a week, I'm going to be a little lost for a few weeks, but then I'll find something else to do. I like golf but I'm not good at it. I started playing 10 years ago. Maybe now I can play more than once a week."
TRANSITION: "I'll stay for two weeks to teach the new owners my way of doing business. After that, I'm not going to be putting my nose into their business. If I come in here after that, it will be as a customer."
By Paul Tamburello
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