Shoppers agree, they told me Thursday morning as they stopped in to pick up quick items on their way to work. One shopper noted the convenience of a small store - this location, built decades ago, is about 25,000 square feet, about half the size of newer stores.

I asked one shopper, Juanita Solano, a small business owner who works nearby, what brought her in to this Kroger. She stopped and confessed with a smile that she did not really need to buy anything. 

She came in, Solano said, because she wanted to visit with the cashier who has become a friend to her over the years of shopping here. Both of them got teary-eyed as they greeted each other there for nearly the final time.

As Kroger gets ready to close on Saturday, the store reminds me of a grieving family that knows it is time to move on, but does not quite want to.

 Shelves are being cleared off and merchandise is being sorted through. Some aisles are nearly empty as perishable items make their way off of the shelves. 

Hartmann said that Saturday will not bring any last minute manager’s markdowns, just the sales in the weekly Kroger ad. 

I asked if he expected anything special for the last day, and he said he did not know what to expect as he and his staff brace for the shutdown.

Some shoppers might stop by on their way to the University of Michigan football game against Notre Dame, he predicted.

"And the longtime patrons - some of which have been shopping here for 30 years—will make their way over for the last day," he said.

Dale Hollandsworth, a spokesman for  Kroger Co., agreed with many of the shoppers in Ann Arbor by saying  the associates at Georgetown Kroger “are a wonderful group of people.” He said the 55 employees at that store will all be given a chance to continue their careers at Kroger by moving into other area stores.

Hollandsworth is sorry the store is closing, but hopes that improvements at other nearby Kroger stores will be a sort of compensation for consumers. He noted that $16 million is being spent on upgrades at five area Krogers, mostly in areas of convenience and selection of easy meals, olive bars, marinated meats, organic items, wine and other specialty products.

As shoppers make their way through the newly designed area Krogers, I am sure they will be looking for the selection of bakery items and produce - and also for a few of their favorite cashiers and workers from Georgetown.

Retail Blogger Angie Smith will hunt for deals and dish on the latest in retail in Ann Arbor. Readers will attain notices of great deals, and store happenings in and around the city. She can be contacted at angieannarbor@gmail.com