By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Chapman’s Food Service, formerly located on State Road and in the Harbor, has closed after more than 30 years in business.
Chapman’s, 4135 State Road, in the former Moses Antique Mall, shut its doors Jan. 29 because of the area’s poor economic climate, according to the Burnett family of Jefferson, who bought the business from Herb Chapman in 1979.
In the beginning, Chapman’s was just an institutional food service, but in the early 1980s, the economy also was going through a tough time, and Bob Burnett decided to fall back on his background as a butcher and introduced fresh meat. Before it closed last week, Chapman’s offered customers meat and more, including produce, bread, coffee, milk, eggs, cheese, luncheon meats and bakery goods. The owners installed a meat case and also had an on-site Ohio Department of Agriculture inspector so it could service restaurants.
Chapman’s closing follows those of Waldenbooks, which left Ashtabula Towne Square in January, and Javanet of Saybrook Township, which closed after Christmas.
