Mulier's Market Begins Liquidation Sales

The shelves at are nearly already empty as the family-owned grocery store on Kercheval Avenue prepares to shutter it's doors after 75 years.

Grosse Pointe Patch spoke briefly with one of the owners from the family, Mike Mulier, Wednesday afternoon between the lines of people waiting with their full baskets to check out.

The beloved neighborhood grocer will be greatly missed in the Park. Many of the store's customers began finding out last week of the closure and expressed sadness to Patch.

A woman in line Wednesday afternoon who Mike Mulier noticed had already been in earlier in the day explained she was coming in for one last time before they close their doors, which makes her want to cry. 

Earlier this week, Mike Mulier posted notice on the market's Facebook page. According to the post, the market has lost high enough percentage of sales in the last year that the family has decided to close. Despite advertising and running specials, the store was losing money.

More than 50 people have either shared the notice or commented about how sad they are to lose the store. They also shared their memories of visiting the store as children on their way to and from school or feeding their families from meals they purchased there.

The store was built by Mike Mulier's grandfather, Omer Mulier, with the help of "youth from the 'cabbage patch.' " It was the second food business he operated in the Grosse Pointes, the first being a meat shop at Mack Avenue and Neff that opened in 1922.

His grandfather also helped start the and the Belgian American Century Club.

Mike Mulier's father, Eugene Mulier, 81, got into the business and eventually Mike did as well after earning a degree in business management from Northern Michigan University. He's been part of the business for 29 years.

Eugene Mulier blames competition and the economy for the decline in the family-owned grocery store's decline.

A thank you note to the customers is displayed in white paper that covers the windows, which also has the dates of the store: 1937 to 2012. A smaller sign in the front door also indicates the store is 50 percent off.

According to Mike Mulier's Facebook post, the family will greatly miss the customers and generations of families they served from their neighborhood store during its 75 years.

The building has new owners who intend to turn the space into a restaurant. Patch's attempt to get more information about the new owners or the type of restaurant have been unsuccessful.