On Saturday afternoon, the line to get inside the Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Store and cafe in Milwaukie was two hours long, full of fans eager to get in one more shopping trip.

Earlier that day, the company announced via a Facebook post that the long-time retail establishment would be closing after 21 years, although the company’s products would continue to be sold in other retail stores and online.

Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will be the last chance to eat at the cafe. The store’s last day will be Feb. 17.

At around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, an employee was waving away cars at the parking lot gates. Not only was the lot full, but those already in line would be the last to make it inside before the store closed for the day at 5 p.m.

Nancy Willison and Bonnie Carter, both from West Linn, met in the line, where they had waited about two hours before being allowed inside.

“By the time we were in the middle of the line, we were committed,” Carter said.

Carter was already planning a trip to Bob’s Red Mill when she saw the closure news on Facebook.

“I thought, ‘Oh my God, what a loss.’ So, I’m just grabbing some staples for the most part,” she said.

Signs declared that the entire store was half-price, and shoppers loaded their carts to the brim with 25-pound bags of flour, cornmeal and rolled oats.

As it neared closing time, the shelves remained a bit more than half-full with food and merchandise. The fresh baked goods were cleared out. Plenty of T-shirts and dishware remained.

“I love Bob’s Red Mill products, I use them all the time, I love supporting homegrown businesses, and I come here often,” Willison said. “It’s got so many wonderful products and fun things to look at and fun things to have.”

The closure comes almost exactly a year after the death of founder Bob Moore at age 94, and around the time of year the store would normally host a birthday party for Moore, who was born Feb. 15, 1929.

— Samantha Swindler covers features for The Oregonian/OregonLive and Here is Oregon. Reach her at sswindler@oregonian.com.

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