Garguiles step in to keep Silverdale Red Apple open

"A last minute deal has kept the Silverdale Red Apple Market open for business.Steve and Tim Garguile, brothers who run the Perry Avenue Red Apple in Bremerton, bought the Silverdale Red Apple Wednesday afternoon after a lease agreement was worked out with building owner Joe Mentor.We had been offered it before, Steven said. But we always passed on it.Silverdale Red Apple employees were informed last Saturday that the store was closing. Competition from new, bigger grocery chains had become too much, according to former Silverdale store manager Bill Brouillette.We thought we could handle the new Albertson's and we did, Brouillette said. But once the new Safeway came in, that really did it.Employees started to leave and make other plans early last week. On Tuesday, employees were preparing for their final days at the store, which was set to close down by Memorial Day weekend.I went in for three hours (on Tuesday) and left, produce manager John Walker said. But then I got a call on Wednesday.Steve and Tim Garguile finalized a deal Wednesday afternoon that doubled their responsibility. Red Apple Market headquarters in Seattle were in talks with Associated Grocer in Seattle to liquidate the inventory at the Silverdale store, but talks were stalled when they heard a deal with the Garguiles was imminent. The exasperated brothers accepted the deal and the added responsibility of a whole other store.We should have said no, Tim Garguile said jokingly.Eventually, Tim Garguile will manage the store in Bremerton while Steve manages in Silverdale. But for now the brothers believe they will have all four of their hands full with their new acquisition.We usually managed to have every other weekend off, Tim said. I don't think we are going to see that for awhile.Steve, who lives in Silverdale, hopes to eventually introduce grocery delivery at the Red Apple Market. He also hopes to maintain independent business in the area.We want to provide the community with a store that is well-stocked and has reasonable prices, Tim said. Hopefully, they'll think they need one."