Two Town Businesses Close Up

The Pumpkin Hill Marketplace on Gallup Hill Road and the Subway sandwich shop on Route 12 in Gales Ferry are the latest businesses to close their doors in a town that has made economic development a major campaign theme during this municipal election.

The Subway in Gales Ferry closed over the weekend. A spokeswoman at Subway’s regional office in Providence said the store, owned by Kyle Pflugbeil, reported a temporary closing date of Nov. 7. She said the reason given for the closure was “financial.”

“I just heard about it today,” the spokeswoman said Monday, but declined to provide any details, except to say that Subway shops typically reopen and continue as Subway shops.

Steve Green, who manages the Subway in Ledyard Center, said he had heard rumors, and even called the Gales Ferry shop to see if they were true. He said the manager denied the rumors.

He said a Subway truck stopped in Gales Ferry to make a delivery Monday morning and found the store closed.

The Pumpkin Hill Marketplace and filling station has been closed for about two weeks. Tenants on either side of the grocery/convenience store said the manager had financial difficulties.

According to town hall records, the property, which includes Colonel Pizza and Bear’s Place package store, was purchased in April by L.U. Leasing Inc. Contacted by phone, a man who identified himself as “Ernie” said he expects the store to have a new tenant before very long. 

Green said his Subway in Ledyard its holding its own, although business has been somewhat slow. He attributed most of that to the season. “It really picks up in the spring, with lacrosse season and little league,” he said.

Green said he probably would do better, especially during the evening hours, if he were allowed to have an illuminated sign, such as the one the Mobil station has across Colonel Ledyard Highway.