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Warwick ShopRite employee retires after 22 years since store first opened

| 05 Aug 2015 | 05:16
    From left, Customer Service Associate Rose Kerstanski, Shop from Home Associate Susan Sanok-Thornton, Maryann Thompson and Customer Service Manager Patty Raniere.
    From left, Customer Service Associate Rose Kerstanski, Shop from Home Associate Susan Sanok-Thornton, Maryann Thompson and Customer Service Manager Patty Raniere.
    Photos by Roger Gavan Retiring ShopRite employee Maryann Thompson prepares to cut the cake as Customer Services Manager Patty Raniere looks on. Thompson retired last week; she has been at the supermarket since it opened in Warwick in 1993.
    Photos by Roger Gavan Retiring ShopRite employee Maryann Thompson prepares to cut the cake as Customer Services Manager Patty Raniere looks on. Thompson retired last week; she has been at the supermarket since it opened in Warwick in 1993.

WARWICK — When Maryann Thompson first joined Warwick ShopRite in August, 1993, she rang up a loaf of bread for $1.57, a dozen eggs for 87 cents and a quart of milk for about 60 cents.

That was the beginning of a career that would last 22 years.

On Wednesday, July 29, Thompson arrived at 8 a.m. for what would be her last shift at the register.

During all these years, Thompson and her husband, Steve, had raised five children, now all grown.

SurpriseShe had been with the store since it first opened and was much appreciated by customers for her good humor and pleasant service. But now it was time to retire.

Sadly for many of these customers and fellow employees, who had decorated Thompson's lane that morning with a board to write their good wishes, this would be her last day at ShopRite.

Shortly after noon, Thompson was asked to report to the second floor office.

It was a surprise party complete with a cake and refreshments and many of the staff were on hand to wish her well.

"Now, I don't want to leave," she joked.

The flirting coupleWhen asked to mention a memorable experience in all these years she told about noticing a couple, who appeared to be strangers, flirting with each other as they waited in the checkout line.

"I guess they saw me watching them," said Thompson, "so when they were ready to pay for both their groceries, they confessed that they were a married couple and this behavior was how they kept their marriage alive."

Thompson has no immediate plans other than relaxing at home and she can still visit her longtime friends at ShopRite.

The Warwick ShopRite family"Associates like Maryann come around once in a blue moon," said Store Director Seth Wertz. "Maryann has always been an exceptional associate who created bonds with both coworkers and customers alike. She will always be a part of the Warwick ShopRite family, and we wish her the best of luck on her retirement."

- Roger Gavan

Editor's note: We were curious about how much the price off bread, eggs and milk had changed 22 years after Maryann Thompson started work. Today, a loaf of bread can cost $2.49; a dozen eggs $3.99 and a quart of milk $1.50.