Originally published October 26 2023
Most have known her simply as Fonthill’s “Avondale Lady.” But not for much longer.
On October 31, Darlene Sarvis is retiring from the Avondale Store located on Haist Street at Canboro Road in Fonthill.
Born in St. Catharines, Sarvis and her family moved to Fonthill 15 years ago, the same time that she commenced her duties as manager of the Avondale store on Haist. In total, she has put in 25 years with the company.
“The store is only a couple minutes from my house, which is obviously very convenient,” she said.
A self-proclaimed “people person,” Sarvis has an easy explanation for why she has stuck with her Avondale job for almost two and a half decades.
“I just love my customers. I have regulars who come in every morning, and when I see them getting out of their car, I know what they want already,” she said with a laugh.
Bread and milk, lottery tickets, newspapers, candy and cigarettes, she stocks it all, and prides herself on keeping the store spotlessly clean and tidy.
“I’ve never had to fire an employee,” she said. “I do all the hiring, and my staff has been great.”
When they were younger, two of her daughters worked in the store with Sarvis. “One daughter changes her hair colour frequently, just like me,” she said. “I've had customers say ‘I just stopped in to see what colour your hair is today.’”
Sarvis works seven days a week, and has five part-timers to assist her. She is usually up at 5 AM and at work by 5:30. She is relieved by a part-timer at 3 PM.
“I work every day, including Christmas and New Year’s Day, she said. “I don't mind the hours at all. I love it, really. Sometimes I even deliver stuff to shut-in customers, who are older and house-bound. I’ve told them that even after I retire, they can call me on my cellphone and I’ll drop by with bread and milk or whatever they need.”
RELATED: An Avondale Christmas (with Darlene)
With three grown children and a retired husband, Sarvis’ short-term retirement plans include heading to the sunny south.
“We’ll go to Florida for the winter,” she said. “My sister has a condo in Fort Myers on the gulf side. We are hopefully going to learn how to play pickleball, which is popular with seniors down there. We’ll stay a couple months, and then visit my husband’s relatives in Georgia.”
Sarvis has never been robbed while on the job, but the Haist Street store was broken into once after hours a couple years back.
“It was the July 1st long-weekend,” she recalled. “Two young guys put a brick through the window, while an older man was waiting in the getaway car. They were trying to chisel the lock off the door, and made a lot of noise in the process. A neighbour called the police, and three not-very-smart crooks went to jail.”
Her last day at the cash register is October 31. Sarvis’ retirement party will be held at the Fonthill Legion on November 4th, from 1 PM to 4 PM. Her past and present customers are invited to drop by to wish her well.
