The doors beneath Oakley Riverside Deli’s bright yellow awning on Hillsdale Street closed for good Friday.
After owning Oakley for eight of its 13 years, Sid Halley credited a combination of factors for the popular sandwich shop’s closing: a decrease in business, increase in costs of materials, like meats and cheeses, and the state’s increasing minimum wage.
“We’ve been running at a loss for at least the last six months, so from the business standpoint, we had to close down while the hole was still one we could actually get out of,” he said.
Halley said other Michigan small businesses have experienced similar issues.
“You see in all the political ads lately that Michigan is the Comeback State,” Halley said, “but I don’t know where they’re looking to be able to say that, because it’s not here…People just don’t have extra money to spend.”
Between the cost of meats, like ham, nearly doubling in the last eight years, a significant drop in business this summer and fall, and the deteriorating condition of the building, Halley said closing was his only option.
“The prices keep increasing, and I don’t see them coming down anytime soon,” he said.
While Halley packed up the final boxes of leftover chips and T-shirts earlier this week, unknowing customers continued to file through the door.
“We’re closed,” he told them.
“Like you’re moving to a new location? You can’t be closing forever!” this reporter overheard customers saying Tuesday.
Since Oakley announced its plans to close on Twitter last Wednesday, many students and alumni have voiced similar sentiments on social media and to Halley. One such discontented customer was junior Kelsey Cromer.
“I’ve gone to Oakley every Thursday since my freshman year,” she said. “A friend and I formed ‘Oakley Thursday.’ Since we had been going there weekly for two years straight, they had our names and orders memorized down to the last topping…Sid would even throw in a free dessert every now and then.”
Getting to know his customers and customizing their orders was Halley’s favorite part of owning and running Oakley.
“We tried to make it personal through making sure we got your name and writing it on the sandwich,” Halley said. “I made a lot of friends through working here, and I’ll miss them. The people were the biggest aspect I enjoyed.”
Aside from these regular lunch and dinner guests, Oakley also served the Charger athletic teams.
“Oakley is what our coach buys us for pre-game meals during the season,” Cromer said. “I would bring the big box of food on the bus and all the girls would shout, ‘Oakley, Oakley, Oakley!’ Now, we are going to have to find a different substitute and it will be hard to top a team favorite.”
Oakley employee and senior football player Sam Landry said the football team will especially miss munching on Oakley subs while traveling to away games.
Smith’s Flower Shop owner Jane Stewart said other local businesses are equally sad to see Oakley close.
“When one business closes, it’s not good for everyone,” Stewart said. “Even when it’s a competitor, closing stores in a small town is bad. Another empty building, especially so close to the college, is frightening.”
Adding to the number of vacant storefronts in downtown Hillsdale, the building housing Oakley will remain empty until Halley and his attorney decide what to do with it.
“Best-case scenario would be to sell it, but I don’t have any plans for it yet,” Halley said.
While Halley said he plans to “keep it simple and drive my schoolbus,” his other job, he encourages his former customers to continue supporting local businesses.
“It’s hard to maintain a smaller business around here,” Halley said. “Go buy from Cindy at the Filling Station. You’re helping her pay a mortgage and car payment. The best way to keep local businesses open is to buy from them.”
Although Oakley may be finished serving sandwiches and soups, its impact on the city and college will not be forgotten by its devoted customers.
“Even though they closed, I will still wear my Oakley T-shirt — yes, I own one — loud and proud,” Cromer said.