Wade’s in Dublin announces it is closing
Wade’s Supermarket in Dublin is closing.
Assistant Manager Cindy Collins confirmed this afternoon that employees were told today the store located on Broad Street (Route 11) would be closing.
Collins attributed the closing to a “lack of sales.”
“We’re like a big convenience store any more. Everyone wanting to shop for groceries goes to Walmart. You don’t have people coming in loading their buggies down with groceries anymore here like they used to,” she said.
Collins said Walmart opened on Route 100 in Dublin “13 or 14 years ago.”
“I’m surprised that we’ve lasted as long as we have,” she added.
Wade’s was a favorite in the county for those who wanted deli items and fresh cut meats.
“About the only placed I know of that you can buy fresh cut meat around here now is at Hilly Haven up in Barren Springs,” Collins said.
Dublin’s Wade’s employs “40 or 50” people, according to Collins, who noted she has been at the store for 30 years. She said she doubted anyone would be able to transfer to the remaining Wade’s location – in Christiansburg – except possibly for the Dublin store manager.
Collins said Christiansburg has “twice the employees” of Dublin’s store, but the building is only about half the size.
“We just didn’t have the profit they (Christiansburg) has, so we’re the ones closing,” Collins said.
The closing of the Dublin store comes about two years after the Wade family shuttered the Radford store – their newest and most modern location. After sitting empty for some time, that location has now become the new home of the New River Community Services.
While Collins said employees were told of the closing today, there was no word as to when the doors would be locked.
“In Radford, it was about three weeks between the announcement it was closing and when the doors were locked,” she said.
Collins said she had been told to accept no new vendors or truck deliveries at the Dublin location.
According to Wade’s website, the company began operation in 1925 in Alum Ridge, Va. This typical country mercantile was owned and operated by Haden and Elinor Wade in this location and a subsequent location across the street until 1940. At that time, the Wades and their two children, Lowell and Freda, moved to Christiansburg leaving the management of Wade’s Store to Dennis Dulaney. Haden and Elinor pursued various business interests during the next ten years, among them operating a small restaurant and a furniture store. In 1950 the Wades returned to the grocery business with the opening of Wade’s Supermarket at 305 Roanoke Street in Christiansburg. This store was one of the first grocery stores in the area to carry a line of health and beauty aids, household hardware, AND soft goods — thus the name “Supermarket.” In 1961, the Wades sold their original store in Alum Ridge to Dennis Dulaney.
Wade’s Supermarket in Dublin was opened in 1962 by Mr. and Mrs. Wade and their son, Lowell. In 1968 the store in Christiansburg moved to it’s present location at 510 Roanoke Street, expanding its services to include a deli department.
By Mike Williams, The Patriot
Dana Smith
April 6, 2018 @ 2:34 pm
Terrible news! Now where are we going to get chicken and steaks. 😔
Greg Wade
April 6, 2018 @ 2:42 pm
i have emailed you the correct version of this story.! You have done nothing to help your community and small business without talking to a genuine source.
4/5/18
To our valued customers:
In a sincere effort to keep your Dublin Wade’s up and running, Wade’s is offering a special sale that will give you a 10% discount off of all purchases from grocery, dairy, frozen food and Health and Beauty care. The discount will be given at the register upon ringing up groceries. Discount is excluded on alcohol, tobacco, deli and meat.
The Wade family and our employees appreciate the opportunity to serve the Dublin and Pulaski community since the mid 60’s. We appreciate your continued support Please share your ideas to improve your shopping experience at Wade’s in Dublin with Greg Wade at gbwade@rbnet.com.
Any and all ideas are appreciated and will be considered!
Greg Wade
Wades Super Market
Randy
April 6, 2018 @ 8:28 pm
When is the store closing?
Sandra Thornsberry
April 7, 2018 @ 1:45 am
So is there a chance the store will stay open?
Lisa Snell
April 7, 2018 @ 7:27 am
Everyone needs to get out an shop local an keep Wades open! So sad if they were to close. Sure the store needs some updates an renovating but never want to see people lose their jobs from lack of business because the bigger chains are putting the local ones out to dry!
C. Smith
April 7, 2018 @ 9:09 am
This is truly sad. The people in Dublin need to protest to try and keep it open. People do need to shop the smaller stores instead of the bigger ones.
Shirley
April 7, 2018 @ 11:14 am
I would shop more there if the building had some work done the restrooms are always nasty and the food is outdated the coolers are always nearly empty prices are more than the other stores ever are the deli food is overcooked and dried out the best store was the Radford store hated for it to close
Dans Smith
April 7, 2018 @ 2:30 pm
I have to disagree. Deli is awesome! But the store can use some modernization. I’d be very willing to pay more for Wades to stay open.
David Richardson
April 8, 2018 @ 2:37 am
This is absolutely horrible Wade’s has the absolute best deli and the bakery as well the preacher cookies there are the best I just went there today and they didn’t have any and the meat there is the best I only buy my hamburger there and there only ..I’m very sad of this news
Crystal
April 9, 2018 @ 8:24 pm
The store could use a make over; most likely will boost business.
Greg Wade
April 10, 2018 @ 11:10 am
Unfortunately, It is a what comes first thing, the chicken or the egg thing. wade’s does not have the money to remodel and customers don’t want to shop their until i do. I understand but do not have the money. I am going to get store cleaned up and also lower pricing to become more price competitive with Food City and Kroger. $550,000 was spent to put new cases in when walmart opened. Unfortunately that was 10 years ago. But had that not been done stroe would have closed about 8 years ago. Wade’s is trying to see if customers will shop with us with a cleaner and more price competitive store. If not we only have one other option and i hope none of us want to see that happen. Rather than just closing i thought it would be nice to get some customer feedback first and your opinions. thank you for sharing. Greg Wade
Eric Underwood
April 11, 2018 @ 8:09 am
Please do not close your Dublin store, I was there Saturday and my first time shopping there. Love the old school feeling while I was shopping there, I’m from Princeton, WV and I like supporting locally owned businesses even though I do not live in Dublin. People need to always support local businesses, if not then they will no longer be in business. I will do my best to support this location and the one in Christiansburg.
Greg Wade
April 11, 2018 @ 10:19 am
Our goal is not to close it. To clean it up and lower some grocery dairy prices to be more price competitive. I cannot remodel but hope the people of the community will support Wade’s and give us another chance. Thanks Greg Wade
Eric Underwood
April 11, 2018 @ 10:40 am
Thank you Greg Wade, I found your store on facebook and saw the sales ad along with the prices of your groceries. Y’all are cheaper than the stores here in Princeton and I like that your store is locally owned. I always support locally owned businesses, I wish more people would do the same. Not a fan of big chain stores, I only like locally owned businesses. Will be back again to shop at your store soon.
D Smith
April 11, 2018 @ 11:24 am
You have my support. We the community can do this!
Regina Duncan Dickinson
April 18, 2018 @ 12:02 pm
I’m so sad about Wade’s closing. I grew up in Dublin and I remember it before it expanded. I live in Wytheville now and Everytime I go through Dublin I stop for fried chicken and to shop for fresh cut meat. It’s a part of my childhood.
Sherri Carico
April 18, 2018 @ 2:35 pm
This saddens me to learn of Wades closing. My mom worked in the deli 12 + years. Her coworkers became family to us. I understand how Walmart put the mom and pop businesses out of business, but Wades is part of our heritage. First jobs for high school kids, chatting and catching up with friends in the aisles..and lets not forget the Dudley brothers. Wades has provided an income for many years, is a place where everyone there is friendly and polite, and the bag boys that helped you put groceries in your car..You sure don’t get that at Walmart. I can’t begin to count the years my grandmother JUST HAD TO HAVE a ham from Wades for her Christmas table. To this day when I shop at Wades I see my mom behind the deli counter, smiling.. I see my dad, aged and so sick and feeble pushing his buggy through the store, shopping for mom because she had lost her leg. And as I leave the store, there’s those adorable Dudley brothers..memories, that’s all we will have left.
Catherine
April 18, 2018 @ 3:25 pm
While some areas of the Wades store in Dublin are nice, others are not cared for by the store employees. I have to ask, does the health department ever visit this location? One can check the freezers and find food that’s been expired for 6 months or so. The restrooms are coated with discarded tissues and urine soaked floors.
A year ago, my husband and I were shopping and met by a group of people laughing and chatting with employees. One of the adults did not have shoes on. No one seemed bothered by this. When we wrote to complain to the owner, we were basically told to look the other way as he did. Bare feet can carry feces and other germs into public places. His response stopped any further shopping at this location.
Sadly, there are a lot of great people who work at the Dublin Wades. It’s a shame they have to tolerate terrible practices just to earn a living
D Smith
April 18, 2018 @ 9:37 pm
I think we’ve been had. Maybe they (Greg Wade) will figure out a Meat Department/ Deli.