It’s the end of an era. After 25 years the Rockwood Foodland is changing ownership.
On Oct. 15 at 6pm the Liebigs will leave the grocery store for the last time as owners.
“I really enjoy the people here and I’ve made some great relationships and I’m going to miss my staff obviously; the staff’s been excellent, past staff, present staff,” said Bernie Liebig, one of the owners.
“But I really enjoyed the town, Guelph-Eramosa, the whole township is fantastic.”
Co-owner Steve Liebig, Bernie’s brother, agreed.
“It hasn’t been a business or a career, it’s been life for myself as far as developing the relationships and getting to know people and seeing the highs and the lows and it’s quite the life,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Though the Liebigs are leaving, the Foodland grocery store will remain open.
“The new ownership will take over the staff and they’re all staying,” Steve Liebig said. “It will be a nice change for them.”
The Liebigs moved to Rockwood in 1991 to take over the store, then a Knechtel Food Market. Bernie was 25, and Steve was 22 when they moved with their parents from the Ottawa Valley to Wellington County to run the store.
“We made a decision as a family, we wanted to move forward and this was a great opportunity that came up as we were looking through Ontario for different franchises and for different opportunities and this was just a beautiful town, a beautiful place and then we decided to go for it,” Bernie explained.
Also in 1991, Bernie and Steve became Rockwood firefighters and today they’re both captains, often running out of the store when they get fire pages.
“Fortunately we have the good great staff that would allow us the opportunity to leave,” Steve said. “We had great staff and our mother was always here supporting us and the staff would support us as we left to serve the community.
“Because of them we were able to leave and do that kind of stuff.”
Despite the sale of the store, Bernie plans to stay in Rockwood and Steve plans to stay in Eden Mills.
“We’ll see what the future brings,” Steve said. “It will be the first time we actually have time to think about anything other than the store.
“It’s been quite a journey.”
The Liebigs sold the business back to Sobeys and a new franchise owner will take over on Oct. 16.
