Minding Your Business: Popular Macon grocer Hoyt's closing its doors

Steve Spradley hasn’t had a weekend off in about 22 years.

That’s about to change.

The owner of Hoyt’s Market, at 3016 Vineville Ave., has decided to close up shop. After lots of thought, Spradley woke up Thursday morning and posted “store closing” on the sign he has used to advertise steaks, seafood and pork for more than two decades.

Spradley said May 12 will be his final day open.

Known best for its steaks, Hoyt’s has specialized in quality meats, including beef, pork, bacon, sausage, ribs, crab legs, alligator and oysters.

Spradley and his wife, Kathy, bought the store from former owner Hoyt Braswell.

Braswell operated the store for about 25 years, so Hoyt’s has actually been around for nearly half a century.

Before Braswell opened his market, the small store operated as a produce stand for decades.

“It’s been here forever,” Steve Spradley said Thursday.

Spradley said he has accepted another job in his former trade as a salesman, adding that economic factors played a partial role in his decision to close.

“I’m excited about the opportunity and a little apprehensive about learning something new at my age,” Spradley said of his new job. “Sales is nothing new for me. It’s a matter of learning a new product and procedure.”

The big change in his life probably won’t hit him until May 19 -- his first Saturday off.

“It’s going to be different,” Spradley said. “I think it’s going to be fantastic.”

Spradley’s banker has been wanting to play golf with him for years, “but you always work on Saturdays,” his banker told him, adding, “I’m taking you golfing.”

Speaking of grocers

It looks like grocery shopping in Macon has taken a turn for the better. My wife usually does the grocery shopping in our family, but I’ll be tagging along on some of those trips, thanks to a measure passed by Macon City Council this week.

Kroger successfully lobbied council to adopt an ordinance allowing grocery stores to host wine tastings. Kroger wants to have the tastings at its Forsyth Road store about four times a year, but the new ordinance would allow wine tastings at any grocery that already has a license to sell wine by the bottle.

Cheers.

To contact Business Editor Harold Goodridge, call 744-4382.

This story was originally published May 3, 2012 at 1:33 PM with the headline "Minding Your Business: Popular Macon grocer Hoyt's closing its doors."