The Personal Injury Attorney Near Me Montvale, NJ, You Can Trust

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MONTVALE — As late morning turned into afternoon on Aug. 28, dozens of cars maneuvered to find parking in the dirt lot belonging to DePiero's Farm Stand and Greenhouse.

A steady stream of customers, many of whom have regularly visited the stand to buy fruits, plants and baked goods over the years, were on hand to patronize it once more. At 5 p.m., the business closed for the final time after more than a century in the community.

The busy scene had become the norm over the past few days since the farm announced its impending closure on Aug. 25, according to Tammy Palmieri, part of the third generation of DePiero family owners. She acknowledged the difficulties of farming, combined with rising costs of operating the business, as key factors that influenced the move.

"It was a tough decision, and one that we didn't think we'd ever have to face," Palmieri said. "But we needed to do something to make ends meet, and [closing] was just the only means to the end."

Founded in 1924, DePiero's was a throwback to establishments that were once common in towns across the country. Customers bought all sorts of fresh produce, plants and seasonal decorations; on its last day, one table was filled with Halloween-themed items.

Handwritten signs listed the name and price of fruit and vegatables for sale, along with some other helpful information for customers. The sycamore honeydew was advertised as "the best honeydew," while the muskmelons, a type of cantaloupe, were "INSANELY GOOD!" On the side of a refrigerator were detailed instructions for the key lime pies it contained.

"Make sure you ALWAYS put your pies in the fridge. Key limes have to stay cool at all times," the page read. "You can freeze the pies. And they will taste the same."

The final day of DePiero's was a reunion of sorts for Magdalena Deniz, a former employee who returned to wish the family well in between catching up with old coworkers. She raved about a range of items, from Concord grapes and horseradish pickles to the various muffins and pies, as well as the overall atmosphere at the farm.

"The experience of shopping here is like no other just because it's so intimate," Deniz said. "It feels like a little hidden secret."

Julia Cuti, of Rivervale, worked at the stand for five years as she went through college. As she reflected on her final day as an employee, she cited the friendships among coworkers and customers as a highlight of the job.

"It's so family friendly," Cuti said. "There are regulars all the time, and they always talk to you. You know everybody's order by heart."

Ann Capazzi, of Montvale, has been coming to the farm since her children were little for hay rides and pumpkin patches in the fall. She still regularly walks over to buy products and particularly enjoys the tomatoes, a "fan favorite" in her household.

Roger Pic, who lives just across the New York border in Pearl River, loves to buy the store's flowers for his mother: mums in the fall, and hanging baskets in the spring.

"It's been here a long time, and it [has] a community kind of a feel to it," said Pic, who has been a customer for at least 15 years. "It's not a big box store — it's very personable."

Irene Herlinsky, of Mahwah, estimated that she has been coming to DePiero's since she moved to the area in 1967. When asked what item she will miss the most, she said simply, "Everything they have to offer."

Locals worried about the future of the DePiero's site can take solace in the fact that it will stay true to its roots in the coming years. The farm was purchased by Montvale and will remain a working, professionally operated property with room for a community garden and farm stand, Mayor Mike Ghassali announced on Facebook.

"This isn’t just a transaction − it’s a testament to our shared values and vision for the future," Ghassali said.

The outpouring of support for DePiero's has been overwhelming for Palmieri, who thought about her late father Edward on the farm's final day. Her brother Glen has since "put his heart and soul into" the business, ensuring that it retained a close relationship with the community until the end.

"Having these people come back and thank us for all of the lives that my dad has touched, my brother, it's very emotional," Palmieri said. "It's an extended family. They've become part of us, and it's a wonderful experience."