Gentry Marvin's future in question

GENTRY — Though the official word is “no comment,” unofficial word is that Marvin’s Foods in Gentry will be closing its doors.

Chuck Combs, owner of the business, said no decision had been reached when contacted by the Eagle Observer last week. On Monday of this week, he said there would be no comment regarding the question of the Gentry store’s imminent closing.

The building's owner also declined comment due to legal obligations.

But word of the closing is circulating. Gentry employees have acknowledged to customers the store will close but would not disclose details. The only word was that a lease was not signed with the building’s owner.

Flyers are being given customers promoting a disbursement sale to begin today. All items in the storeare being marked down 25 percent. A sign just inside the door is promoting other chain locations in Gravette and Lowell.

Word has also been posted on Facebook concerning the Gentry store's closing, with speculations as to the cause.

Marvin's Foods took over Gentry's strugglinggrocery store in June of 2009, fully restocked shelves and offered many items each week at very competitive prices. It remained Gentry's only full-line grocery store until Walmart, earlier this year, opened its scaled-down Walmart Express, which also carries a full line of groceries.