After more than six decades at ACME Markets, beloved Horsham cashier Rich Czerwonka rang up his final customer on his 85th birthday, writes Wakisha Bailey and Paxton Reese for CBS NEWS Philadelphia.
Czerwonka spent most of his life inside the aisles of the same store. He began stocking shelves on the overnight shift at age 23. That was where he was when he learned President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated.
“When I went to work that night, everyone was saying Kennedy got shot,” he said.
He then moved on to bagging groceries and took pride in every detail of his work, including keeping the floors shining. As a cashier, he became a friend to customers and was known as a community staple.
“I really enjoy talking to people,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a pleasure when you get up in the morning and know you’re going to talk to somebody.”
After his wife of 49 years died in 2015, his coworkers became a second family.
After 61 years, 7 months, and 24 days, on his final day of work, customers brought him cards, hugged him, and wished him a happy birthday.
Read more about Rich Czerwonka of Horsham’s ACME Markets at CBS NEWS Philadelphia.
