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Berkeley Finer Foods in Batavia to close after 16 years
Berkeley Finer Foods will close its Batavia store on July 30 after 16 years in business, potentially ending a decades-long run of local grocers at the Van Buren Street location.
Sam Kraft
July 18, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
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Berkeley Finer Foods, the grocery store that has operated at 28 South Van Buren Street in Batavia since 2009, announced that it will close on July 30.
In a Facebook message to customers, the store shared:
“We would like to take the time to thank our regular customers who showed support throughout all these years. We’ve had the opportunity to get to know many people personally. We will miss you. We would also like to especially thank our Berkeley crew, the best crew we could’ve asked for. We thank you for your hard work and dedication to us.”
The store has begun a liquidation sale on select merchandise ahead of the final day of business on July 30.
A long-time East Side staple
The current Berkeley property has been home to one grocery store or another for most of the past 65 years.
Walt’s Supermarket first opened in 1961, serving as an anchor for the community for nearly 35 years. Here’s a fun ad from a 1965 edition of the Batavia Herald.
Walt’s abrupt closure on Christmas Eve in 1995 was met with disappointment and sadness from the community. Speculation about a new grocery store moving in sprung up immediately, but the storefront sat empty for two years before attracting a new tenant.
Amstedt’s opened in October 1997 to fill the grocery-store gap. Frank Amstedt, who already owned a grocery store in Fox River Grove, refurbished much of the space after purchasing the property. He also brought back a large chunk of Walt’s former staff.
📸 Credit: The Batavia Republican, October 9, 1997 (page 7)
It remains to be seen what will unfold in the property’s next chapter. Loyal Berkeley shoppers will no doubt hope for a new grocery store to carry on the tradition.
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