SOUTH HADLEY — Longtime lunch spot Tailgate Picnic will close its doors at the end of December after 37 years providing deli staples to South Hadley residents.
“This decision was not made lightly, as Tailgate Picnic has been a neighborhood institution at The Village Commons,” Village Commons CEO Jeff Labrecque wrote in an email. “It brought people together, provided livelihoods, and contributed to the character and vitality of the area in a way that cannot be easily replaced.”
The deli and market at the corner of Route 47 and Route 116 opened in 1988. Jack and Alica Magri owned and ran Tailgate Picnic for 24 years before selling it to Dawn Morey in 2022. For the past three years, Morey has continued to offer a homemade breakfast and lunch menu to South Hadley residents.
According to a statement from The Village Commons, Tailgate Picnic opted to close due to “increased challenges in today’s economic climate.”
Dawn Morey, owner of the business, declined to comment on the business’s closure. In a statement posted on the door’s business, she discussed the difficulty of the decision.
“Tailgate has always been about people — our customers, our neighbors and the relationships built over time,” she said. “I am deeply grateful for the support and kindness shown to me over the past few years.”
Both Labrecaque and Morey expressed gratitude for the many years of patronage for the business. Tailgate Picnic’s last day is Dec. 31.
