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For the first time in 30 years, Manchester’s Spring Street Market has a new owner.

Located at 801 S. Spring Street, the community market known for its friendly service and quality meat products has been a fixture in the city for more than 80 years.

Owners Kenneth and Mary Duke officially celebrated three decades of ownership July 4, and decided the time was right to retire.

“I’m 67 and we’re not as young as what we used to be and while we can still get around and be active we want to get out and do some things,” Kenneth Duke said.

At the top of that list is to do some traveling in their motorhome and spend some more time on the lake fishing, he said.

When it comes to what he will miss most about the business, Kenneth said it will be the people.

“Mary said that also, the people and our employees, most of them are like family,” he said.

Mary Duke, who has done everything from stocking shelves to working a cash register, bagging groceries and handling the bills, said saying goodbye to the market has been emotional for her.

“I am having a hard time getting past leaving,” she said. “I have enjoyed it and we have been here a long time. We made a lot of friends and all the employees are going to be really hard to leave.”

The Dukes also said they would like to thank the community for so many years of support and friendship.

While the Duke’s are starting a new chapter in their lives with retirement, the couple said they have no plans to leave Manchester, and still plan to be involved with the community.

“We will never move away from Manchester,” Kenneth said. “We are here to stay.”

The store has been purchased by longtime entrepreneur Dan Holt of Fayetteville, Tennessee. Holt, who owns several businesses ranging from restaurants to a golf course, said he first got into the grocery business eight years ago with Holt’s IGA in Fayetteville.

“I have enjoyed the grocery business,” Holt said. “I really like this store and I have been in it many times.”

Holt, a Shelbyville native, recalled riding along on his father’s milk route in Manchester and delivering milk to Spring Street Market 50 years ago.

Looking to expand his footprint in the grocery business, Holt said one of the reasons he became interested in purchasing Spring Street Market is its reputation for being so well run and its success in the community.

“The biggest or the most attractive thing about this store are the wonderful people who work here,” he said.

While ownership has changed, Holt said he plans to continue on what the Dukes have accomplished at the store and continue to serve the customers to the best of their ability so when they leave, they want to come back.

“The number one attribute of all successful businesses are their customers coming back,” he said.

Holt said that while he might do a little remodeling and updating over time, he wants to invest in the business and its employees.

Holt said he is looking forward to spending even more time in Manchester.

“This town as always impressed me as a town that just has really good people here,” he said.