By Anne Levin
When Mike Rothwell gathered his staff at Pennington Quality Market (PQM) last Monday to give them the news that the store would be closing on June 13 — and reopening two days later as a branch of McCaffrey’s Food Markets — some tears were shed.
Generations of families have worked at the longtime independent market over the past several decades. Some have been at PQM for as long as the 45 years that Rothwell’s family has owned the store. Some have never worked anyplace else.
“There was some emotion in the room, needless to say,” said Rothwell, whose father Larry Rothwell bought the business from its original owners in 1981. “But they all understand why this is happening. It’s because we had no succession plan. It’s as simple as that.”
McCaffrey’s CEO Jim McCaffrey was on hand for the meeting. “He talked to them. And that helped,” said Rothwell. “All of them will be offered a job in the new store. It was heartwarming, actually. And some wonderful sentiments were expressed.”
Rothwell and his sister Barbara Rothwell Henderson, who has managed the store’s flower shop, knew that this day was coming. The siblings had hoped to keep the business in the family as they started to consider retirement. But their children live on Martha’s Vineyard, in Nashville, and other parts of the country. No family members were interested in taking over. Rothwell said transitioning to McCaffrey’s — another family business, but larger — is the next best thing. The PQM site will be McCaffrey’s ninth store, and its third in New Jersey, where locations include the Princeton Shopping Center and West Windsor.
“This is what I had hoped for,” said Rothwell. “They are the perfect partner. We’ve been great friends over the years. They need a really great work force to blend in with theirs. It’s really a win-win for the staff, and for customers as well. After COVID, in particular, we realized the challenges of an independent retail business. We just don’t have the scale of some of our competitors.”
PQM started small in the borough of Pennington in 1960 before moving to the Pennington Shopping Center on the edge of town. Growing up, Rothwell worked alongside his father most weekends, joining the business in 1989. The elder Rothwell, who died in 2018 at age 92, had added various departments to the store including catering and the popular floral shop. Community involvement has always been a priority, as evidenced by the glass display case just inside the entrance that holds numerous fundraiser recognitions, thank-you letters, community awards, and recognitions from the many local organizations and charities the store has supported through the decades.
Since the announcement of the closing was made public, Rothwell has been flooded with messages of appreciation on social media and in person. “Particularly from former employees who started their careers with us in high school. It’s been just incredible,” he said. “And we’ve employed the children of so many who started with us.”
McCaffrey’s is planning to do some updating and remodeling at the store. In an official announcement, Jim McCaffrey said, “We are honored to welcome Pennington Quality Market into the McCaffrey’s family. PQM has built an outstanding reputation, and we look forward to building on that strong foundation.”
Rothwell, who turns 70 in July, has no specific plan for his retirement. His wife is a successful landscape architect who makes frequent trips to the West Coast, and he hopes to join her on those. “I’m looking forward to the spontaneity of life,” he said. “Just to wake up and say, ‘What do I want to do today?’ Because the reality of this business is that it is seven days a week. You’re always on call.”
The end is “certainly bittersweet,” he said. “I mean, 66 years with that name over the door. There will be a tear in my eye when the sign comes down. But I’m very excited for the next chapter, and so appreciative for all that we have shared and enjoyed with our employees, our customers, and the community. Those relationships transcend any dollars and cents.”