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Iott, a co-founder of the chain, was chairman of Seaway Food Town Inc.

in 2000 when Spartan Stores of Grand Rapids, Mich., bought the local firm's 47 supermarkets and 26 Pharm deep-discount drugstores.

Seaway Food Town then had annual revenues of more than $750 million.

Food Town also was a corporate sponsor of many community events, including the annual Holiday Parade in downtown Toledo.

"I guess it was inevitable," Mr.

Iott told The Blade as Food Town shareholders approved the sale.

"I haven't really looked forward to it.

But because all over the U.S.

the industry is consolidating, we had to do something." Spartan began pulling out, though, in April, 2003.

The last store closed in August, 2003, ending a 55-year legacy and a brand name of 46 years.

"I'm absolutely convinced that he passed on thinking that he did the right thing based on the information we had," said his son, Rich Iott, who was Seaway Food Town president and chief executive officer when Spartan bought the chain.

"It was the right business decision at the time." When Spartan closed the last Food Town, "he never said anything, I never heard any regrets," his son said.

"It [had] to have hurt inside." Mr.

Iott, of Sylvania Township, became Food Town chairman and president in 1962.

The co-op that was formed in 1948 among five grocers - Mr.

Iott among them - incorporated in 1957 as Seaway Food Town.

Mr.

Iott was named to lead it five years later when a business partner left the venture, and the com...

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