Norwich — A steady stream of pickups and SUVs backed to the loading dock at Norwich Agway throughout the holiday weekend and Tuesday, with regular customers hoping to get a last load of hay, straw, feed, dog food, fencing or other favorite items.

Conversation with employees often included: “this is so sad,” “thank you for everything,” “best of luck to you,” and even “what’s going to happen to Callie?” The long-haired, good-natured cat paced the open floor, now devoid of her normal perches atop stacks of bird seed or pet food.

Steve Muller, who has owned Norwich Agway since 2001, announced “with a heavy heart” in an email to customers and a Facebook post that the store will close April 30 and he will sell the property, including the self-storage facility behind the store.

“We have entered an agreement to sell our real estate, including the Storage Yard, and the Agway property,” Muller wrote. “The new owners are experienced in the self-storage industry, and will continue operations of the Storage Yard.”

Muller declined to comment on the pending closure Tuesday, as customers combed already dwindling stock for 25% off bargains.

“This is going to kill me,” said Janet Munroe of Norwich. She owns horses, chickens, a goat, a pig and dogs. She lives minutes from Norwich Agway and shops there frequently, even buying her spring chicks at the store. She said a lot of farms sell hay by the ton, but her barn isn’t big enough for that, so she goes to Agway every two weeks for several bales.

“I was totally upset when the young kid told me last week,” Munroe said.

The "young kid," Luca Grossi, 20, of Franklin, has worked at the store since he was in high school at Norwich Free Academy. Grossi said he enjoys interacting with customers, loading supplies and being part of the store's personal touch. At Christmastime, he played Santa for the hundreds of pet photos taken at the store.

“I was very surprised,” Grossi said of the closing announcement. “The community is good here. I like the relationships with the customers, helping people to the best of my ability.”

Grossi might get to take Callie home when the store closes. Employees assured customers Tuesday that one of the employees will take the cat.

“I’d take her home myself today if I wasn’t allergic,” one woman said to the cashier.

Steve Voronuk of Norwich rattled off a list of items he buys at Norwich Agway: bird seed, deer feed, grass seed, garden plants and garden fencing, which he loaded into his vehicle Tuesday.

“This is sad,” Voronuk said. “I’ve been coming here for many, many years. I don’t even know how long. I’ve been dealing with this place forever. When I was a kid, I would get guinea pig and rabbit food here.”

Albert Lamke of Oakdale did not know about the store closing when he arrived Tuesday to pick up bird seed. Lamke has been a customer “for as long as I can remember,” buying mulch, bird seed and garden supplies.

“What’s left, Job Lot? Walmart?” he said. “It’s sad.”

Several customers offered similar sentiments, turning their thoughts to possible other local sources of gardening items, pet and livestock food, bird seed and even those live baby chicks and ducks in spring.

A stack of fliers on the register counter offered a possible answer: Norwich customers would get a discount at the Plainfield store.

Some shoppers said they plan to check out other local options, such as Montville Hardware or Fleming’s Feed & Hardware in Preston.

Grossi said he, too, will check out those places for a possible new job when the Norwich store closes.

“It has been fun, challenging, rewarding, but mostly an honor to serve the community since 2001, when I became owner," Muller wrote in the announcement. "We will miss everyone as we all begin new chapters in our lives. Mostly I want to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your business, friendships, and understanding as the challenges of the past couple of years have presented themselves.”

c.bessette@theday.com