Merion’s Produce Hut – Closed Permanently
Twenty-seven years ago, John Merion opened Merion’s Produce Hut in Concordville. Retired for three months from owning IGA Supermarkets, he wanted to do something that kept him in touch with people, and played on his farming background. Sadly, it has been closed permanently due to John’s health issues.
He comes from a long line of farmers, and although he was the first non-farming Merion man, he wanted to maintain his connection with the earth. He got up every morning at 4:30 and travelled to area farmers in Delaware, New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania, in search of just-picked produce so his customers would have fresh vegetables and fruit to purchase.
The Merion family moved to Concord in 1865 and purchased a farm on Featherbed Lane. They ended up owning two farms in the township, and leasing two. His Uncle John Merion is shown in this 1910 photograph of their early produce stand on Concord Road, between Smithbridge and Mattson Roads.
John spent his whole life in Concord, and fondly recalled when corn and cows dotted the fields, and barns were places for animals. It was a time gone by when farming was the mainstay of the community, and where everybody knew everyone’s name. He had planned to continue serving his customers until he no longer could. We will all miss his warm welcome to all who stopped in.
August 2019
Obituary of John C. Merion
John C. Merion, Jr., 74 passed away peacefully at home on August 15, 2019 surrounded by his family. He was a life long resident of Concord Township. John was born on October 26, 1944 in Pearisburg, VA to the late John & Ruth Lucas Merion. He attended the one room schoolhouse on Concord Road and Concord Elementary school, then Media High School where he met the love of his life, Evelyn Peterson. They were married in August 1964. John worked for A&P Supermarkets as a produce manager for 19 years. After leaving A&P, John owned and operated three IGA supermarkets in West Chester, PA, Roslyn, PA and Newark, DE before opening Merion’s Produce Hut in Concordville in 1992. John loved following and attending NHRA drag races, eating seafood and anything to do with cars. He was a member of Concord Masonic Lodge, 625 F&AM. John also loved his granddogs. He is preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn P. Merion who died in 2016. He is survived by daughter; Heather (Merion) Anderson, son; Christopher J. Merion and wife Janice (Smith) Merion, and sister; Ruth Arlene (Merion) Bullock.
