UNI-MART CLOSES IN EMPORIUM, SHINGLEHOUSE

Above, the closed Shinglehouse store; at right, the Emporium store during better days. Photo by Jessica Visseau

Uni-Mart convenience stores in Emporium and Shinglehouse were among those abruptly shut down across the state last Friday.

A lawyer said Uni-Mart LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week and closed dozens of stores with little notice to managers, employees or customers.

The company, facing about $28.5 in debts to food, fuel and drink providers, decided to eliminate 45 stores determined by executives to be "underperforming."

A spokesperson for Emporium's Uni-Mart confirmed that employees there had no advance notice.

That store was put on the auction block in 2004. A local businessman and investors looked into leasing and managing operations, but the offer was pulled after problems arose with the accompanying Burger King outlet.

Shinglehouse also housed a Burger King eatery at its Uni-Mart store for several years.

The Emporium property is owned by Commercial Net Lease Realty Trust of Orlando, Fla. Uni-Marts LLC of State College was leasing the site. Commercial Net Lease Realty bought the 1.2 acre site and building from Uni-Mart in 2005 for $945,000.

Uni-Mart purchased the property from Clair Robert "Buzz" Olivett in 1996.

Only two gasoline stations remain in Emporium -- Sheetz and Kwik Fill - while Shinglehouse is down to one.Uni- Mart convenience stores