A sign posted on the door informed customers that Carl's Market - a longtime staple in Pine River - has merged with their previous competitor Jerry's SuperValu.

The combined store - located at the existing SuperValu location on Highway 371 - will operate under the Jerry's SuperValu name.

The Carl's Market building on Barclay Avenue, owned by brothers Jerry and Carl Anderson, will be sold following a discount sale there from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 10-13.

Sunday, signs were posted on the doors at Carl's to notify customers of the merger. On Monday throughout the day vehicles pulled into Carl's, individuals got out, checked the sign, and got back into their vehicles - presumably to drive over to Jerry's to shop.

Aside from the notice on the door, customers did not have advance notification.

Jerry's SuperValu now employs Carl's six year-round employees full time - including the Anderson brothers - a move that several longtime Carl's Market customers were relieved to hear.

Jerry's SuperValu Owner Jerry Sauvageau said that Jerry's SuperValu had been short staffed for weeks and were holding off on hiring until the merger went through. Now the additional employees from Carl's Market will help round out the staffing at Jerry's.

Both Sauvageau and Jerry Anderson, formerly of Carl's, agreed that the economy contributed to the merger.

"The last year has been hard on everybody; I know a lot of grocery stores are struggling. A lot of convenience stores are struggling. It's one of those situations where you get a perfect storm: everything comes together," Sauvageau said.

"We sat down and decided that for a healthier store in Pine River it would be better to combine," Anderson said. "Of the two facilities, this one's bigger and can handle more, so it made sense to merge and come to (Jerry's)."

Sauvageau said that he is excited to hear the ideas that the new employees have for Jerry's SuperValu. "We're very excited about bringing them on; they're well-versed in the grocery business," he said.

Carl's Market customers may be happy to hear that they'll see the same, friendly faces at Jerry's that they've come to expect at Carl's - and specialties like Carl's homemade potato sausage will be available at Jerry's. In fact, Carl Anderson will be working at the meat counter at Jerry's.

And, Jerry's SuperValu also offers home delivery on Wednesdays, a service Carl's Market was known for.

"We had a lot of regular customers and we appreciate it if they'll come and see us here," Jerry Anderson said.

"We'll be using best practices in both stores and marrying them together," Sauvageau said of the merger.

Carl's Market has a long history with Pine River - and has been in the Anderson family since Jerry and Carl's parents, Francis and Luella, purchased the store in 1975 from then-owner Larry Qualley. The Anderson brothers have owned it since 1989 when they took over for their parents.

Longtime Carl's Market customer Blanche Edens said that she began shopping at Carl's in 1980 when it was owned by Francis and Luella. Shopping at Carl's was "so convenient," she said, "However, I do like Jerry's." Edens said that she'd typically stop at Carl's two to three times a week to pick up items. Now she says that she'll be more thoughtful about planning her shopping lists in advance and won't be making as many trips for one or two items.

Nettie Hagie, of Pine River, said that she liked Carl's because it was a good, old-fashioned market with inexpensive prices. "It was handy for seniors that live close to town and the city bus stopped there several times," according to Hagie.

Carl's Market customer Clara Weiss was "floored" when she heard about the merger. Weiss says its safe to say that she's shopped there most of her life. "The location was very convenient; I will miss it," she said.

They are always so friendly, it wasn't too large a store so you didn't have to wander around to find the merchandise," she added.

Customers accustomed to Carl's Market won't have to travel much father to reach Jerry's - three blocks separate the two stores.

Larry Fenn was also a longtime shopper at Carl's. He enjoyed the smaller store and was familiar with it. He thinks towns should always have multiple grocery stores. "There should always be competition," he said.

Pine River now joins other communities on Highway 371 as a one-grocery store town. There's Mark's Market in Hackensack; Godfrey's in Backus; Northern Food King in Pequot Lakes; and Schaefer's Foods in Nisswa.

Carl's Market customers can make one last trip to the store this week while the remaining inventory is discounted for sale. The doors will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through this Saturday.

A celebration event commemorating the merger between the two groceries will be held later this year at Jerry's SuperValu. Summer store hours at Jerry's are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.