NEARBY: East Meadow Pathmark to Close Saturday

Editor's Note: This article was written by Danielle De Souza.

Muriel Schwind of Hempstead remembered when she first started working as a cashier at Pathmark. 

"I came in and another cashier told me about the job and I have been here ever since," she said.

In a couple of hours, Schwind will say goodbye to the grocery store that she has worked at for close to 27 years. 

After serving the East Meadow community for 35 years, Pathmark will close on Saturday. 

"I am going to miss this place," she said. "I am going to miss the customers."  

Landlord Geoffrey Serota said that the grocery store will shutter because it took on too much debt, it was not operating properly and it was in direct competition with the nearby Waldbaums. He said that a new business should be open in the Pathmark building in 2014. 

"I am very positive that a new supermarket or a large anchor tenant will be coming to that property," he said. 

On Thursday, supermarket employees laughed with one another as a few customers shopped. Most aisles were completely empty and "Everything Must Go" signs adorned the market. 

Robby, who has worked at Pathmark for 12 years, said that he is very sad about the closure.

"I don't want to leave, but I have no choice," he said.

Employees at the store were given the option to work at other markets on Long Island. 

Chris, who has worked at Pathmark for 11 years, said that he was bothered by the fact that he will no longer see his co-workers.

"We have grown to know one another and now everyone is being separated," he said. 

Employees said that most of all, they will miss their loyal costumers.

"Some came in today to say goodbye," Schwind said. "We met a lot of nice people over the years."