Morgan's Grocery

Where can we go to get a great cut of meat? Morgan’s Grocery of course!
Since 1958, Morgan’s Grocery’s claim to fame is their meat department. In fact, Morgan’s is the only licensed area store to carry 100% certified Angus Beef. Their reputation for excellent meats extends far beyond Yates County. Ask any of the vacationers who visit this area. The popularity of “Morgan’s Meats” supports not only the Depot Store, but a butcher shop at the Windmill.

In 1958 William Morgan purchased the Pennsylvania Apartments on Elm Street. The building, built in 1888 as the Hayes House Hotel, operated as a hotel with many names and many owners until it was converted into apartments. In 1935, a Market Basket grocery store moved into the first floor of the building. Twenty-three years later, this space became the original Morgan’s Grocery. Bill Morgan was married to a Penn Yan girl, Arrel Ayres. Under their management, Morgan’s Grocery thrived.

The original location housed two meat slicers, and was a draw for the local businesspeople looking for a good salad platter for lunch. Starting at 11 a.m., customers came in for their mid-day meal. Following local tradition when all of downtown was open every Friday night, Morgan’s was open until 11 p.m. to accommodate the stragglers in town for the big Friday night social event. During the summer, the store was a favorite with the local youngsters; Morgan’s had the best selection of ice cream treats and popsicles around!

In 1972, their son, Bruce, took over the reins. He was a natural as the new manager/owner. After all, he had been working in the store since he was 13 years old. In 1988, on the thirtieth anniversary of his father’s opening the store, Bruce moved his grocery across the tracks into its current location in the old railroad freight depot. This doubled the size of the store providing the extra space that allowed him to triple his inventory. In 1988, Bruce added the deli that remains a favorite eating place today. Morgan’s now has an inventory and low prices that rival the big grocery chains.

On June 10, 2004, disaster struck Morgan’s Grocery. A fire broke out between the layers of insulation above the ceiling. Heroic efforts on the part of responding fire departments saved the coolers but the slate roof had to come off for repairs. The store reopened on September 24th. Morgan’s customers were grateful that this disaster, if it indeed had to happen, occurred when the store at the Windmill was open –they didn’t have to become vegetarians for three and a half months.

Morgan’s reopened with new ceilings, lighting, new meat and produce cases, and a new acrylic floor. Bruce’s crew of loyal employees returned to work. Sue Thompson, who originally worked for Bruce in his Gorham store as cashier, is now General Manager. Matt King, a meat cutter, has worked for Bruce for 13 years.

Many other local names are associated with Morgan’s Grocery. Norm Nielsen was his first full-time meat cutter and Ether Blauvelt was his first full-time cashier. Bob Wilhelm was Bruce’s first bottle and cooler boy. Other meat cutters have been: Don Paddock, Bob Carpenter, Charlie Beach, Pane Jensen, and Danny Hibbard, who started at age 15 and is still there. Other employees include Bill Smith, Mary Pepper and Ginny Richardson.