Sunshine Market on Route 315 in Plains Township closes, for good, soon. I think I've been there about six times. It's a fine store. It's simply out of my way, but I did find a moment to stop by one last time yesterday.
While I was a rare visitor here, I do remember several trips to Sunshine Market's previous incarnations, with my aunt, as a kid.
The owners want to get out of the business. While it's sad to see the store go, and I feel for the people who will lose their jobs, it's difficult to shed a lot of tears. The building and the land are worth a lot of money. There's a strong rumor Mohegan Sun will establish a golf course on the site. If they don't, no doubt someone will want it. It's a big building on a busy highway.
It was nice while it lasted. By the way, my final Sunshine Market purchase was a 12 pack of diet tangerine soda, which is beyond awful.
>>>UPDATE: Sunshine Market closes Saturday.
The demolition you see above is a bit more controversial. The rubble you see used to be the rectory of St. John the Baptist Church in William Street. A fellow blogger says the church, at the right of the photo, is next on the hit list. The Diocese of Scranton closed the church a couple years ago.
First, when does a church stop being a church, and become an empty building?
My blogger friend says he's been told the Diocese can't sell the building. Putting emotions aside, I can understand that. Converting a big, old church into another use takes time and money. Both are in short supply these days. No doubt it's easier for the Diocese to sell an empty lot rather than an empty former church.
