GREENE – Changing lifestyles and growing competition from big retailers are forcing a small local shop to close its doors.

Myers Country Cupboard sells health foods from its small, homey location on Route 202. The family-run business has offered flour, spices, dried fruits, nuts, beans, pasta and other cooking staples for 20 years.

Now owner Dennis Myers is reluctantly calling it quits. He expects the store will be closed by the end of next week.

Although several factors are contributing to the decision, two stand out: The increasing numbers of supermarkets and wholesale clubs that are expanding health food lines, and fewer people spending time in the kitchen.

“A lot of our customers are older people and it seems the younger generation is not into preparing food from scratch,” said Myers. “I see that as the primary factor.”

Myers said the business had provided a good livelihood for his family since they opened it in 1984. The business did well each year until 1999, and then it started to decline and never recovered.

As the sole supporter of his wife and six children – four of whom are still home – Myers said it was time to find something else. He’s been hired as a sales representative for Choice Books.

At 53, it’s a change he didn’t expect to make. But he and his family had been discussing the decision to close the store for the past year.

“I would have been just as happy if things had continued to go here,” he said.

Since the family lives adjacent to the store, there are no plans to sell the business or property.

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