`i Want To Make The Best Of It.' 
Cougar Swimmer Leaves 
The Baseball Diamond 
For Life In The Wet Lane

Accident Victim Listed `critical'

By PAMELA C. TURFA and JERRY LYNOTT; Times Leader Staff
Writers
 Saturday, January 04, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





So how many of the six Bargains Galore stores from Moosic to Hazleton are
being sold? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Associated Wholesalers Inc. of Robesonia says it is purchasing all of them
from Anthony Colonna of Sunshine Markets. The sale, says AWI in a Thursday
press release, will bring to 22 the number of Shursave Markets operating in
Northeastern Pennsylvania. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Colonna says only the stores in Edwardsville, Moosic and Hazleton are
being sold. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 AWI has expressed an interest in the other three stores in Hanover
Township, Wyoming and Luzerne, but there have been no negotiations and no
deal, Colonna says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Neal Fasula of Gerrity's says four stores -- Edwardsville, Moosic, Hazleton
and Hanover Township -- are definitely involved in the sale. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Gerrity's, a member of the AWI cooperative, already has opened in the
Moosic and Hazleton locations. The Edwardsville store, which closed after last
January's flood, is being remodeled as a Gerrity's. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Negotiations are being wrapped up for the Hanover Township store and are
ongoing for the Wyoming and Luzerne stores, Fasula said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 According to the AWI press release: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 AWI's board of directors, during its December meeting, "approved the
acquisition" of the six Bargains Galore stores. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The stores will be "completely remodeled and operated as Shursave Markets." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 AWI, a cooperative, full-line grocery, perishables and non-foods
wholesaler, will lease the stores to co-op members in the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre market. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The company's store development plan is aimed at increasing market share
for Shursave operators in Northeastern Pennsylvania. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The company ranked third in 12 Northeastern Pennsylvania counties in 1996
with estimated sales of $141.9 million and a 6.74 percent share of the market,
according to Food Trade News, a monthly industry publication. Sunshine
Markets/Bargains Galore, with an estimated $59.8 million in sales, ranked
12th. Weis Markets, with $482.5 million in estimated sales, ranked No. 1. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We are pleased with this acquisition as it will strengthen the Shursave
presence in the marketplace and it will enhance our independent retailer
members' ability to compete effectively with the chain operators in the area,"
company President J. Christopher Michael said in the press release. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Three additional Shursave stores are planned for the market area within the
next year, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 AWI officials could not be reached Friday night for comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Colonna also said he is building a new store at the site of his Scott
Warehouse on Route 315, Plains Township. The new full-service store will have
76,000 square feet of selling space. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

6 Bargains Galore Stores Being Sold, Says Firm But Anthony Colonna Of Sunshine Markets Says He Is Selling Only Three Of The Stores