Ed and Barbara Anania are planning to retire in December and have put the Congress Street Anania’s (website, facebook, instagram) building and business up for sale with plans to close the landmark store on Christmas Eve. Additionally, they’re in the process of selling their Washington Ave location to their store manager and partner Zach Lord who plans to continue to operate it under the Anania’s name.
Ed shared that he’s been working at the family business since he was 10 years old, and Barbara has been involved in the business since 1989. It was Ed’s father, also named Edward, opened the first Anania’s market in 1963. Over the years they expanded to South Portland and Washington Ave. The South Portland location was sold a few years ago and reopened as the Ferry Village Market in 2020.