‘Ready to see what life offers’: After 50+ years in business, Williamson’s Food Store is up for sale in Melrose

MELROSE, Fla. – Melrose, an unincorporated community in Alachua, Bradford, Clay, and Putnam counties, is a charming and quiet town rich in history. Although small, one of its staples is set to transform.

Williamson’s Food Store, a popular establishment in downtown Melrose known for its meats and groceries, has served the community for over 50 years. However, the owner is looking to sell the store or closing it for good.

“It’s time for me to retire, but before deciding, I asked my butcher, Paul Saey, who has been with me since the grocery store opened, what he wanted to do. When Paul told me he was retiring in February 2025, that’s when I made my decision to put the store up for sale. Right now, we have a deal in the works, and if all goes well, we should close by January 31, 2025,” Bruce Williamson, owner of Williamson’s Food Store, told News4JAX.

Williamson’s Food Store has been a family-owned business since 1972.

It was started by the owner’s father as a small grocery store with a butcher shop where locals could purchase fresh meat. Over the years, the business has grown.

The atmosphere remained constant, with everyone accustomed to the warm greetings and the small-town vibe, where everyone knew each other.

Many locals are genuinely saddened to see the place for sale or closing, but they also understand the situation.

“I haven’t had much time to see many places in my lifetime, only when I was with the Navy, and I haven’t had much time with my family. More than anything, I want to travel throughout the U.S. with my wife, seeing places such as the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore, as they are on my bucket list, but more importantly, I want to spend time with my granddaughter and my family,” Williamson said. “I’m going to miss everybody, and everyone tells me they will miss us too. Melrose is a small town, and many folks worked for us. We gave a lot of local teenagers their first jobs. I’m going to miss that. I have worked long days, 14–16 hours a day, and now I’m ready to see what life offers.”

Melrose has experienced exponential growth in recent years. About four miles away, Winn-Dixie is the area’s closest grocery store.

However, Walmart, Kroger, and Hitchcock all compete for local grocery shoppers in the area.