Like hundreds of other people across North Central Florida, Alan Hitchcock started hearing rumors last month about Hitchcock’s Markets closing.
The Alachua-native’s father, Bob Hitchcock, and grandfather, Robert Hitchcock Sr., founded the local grocery store and pharmacy on Main Street in Alachua in 1945.
Alan Hitchcock also worked for the company, growing it into 12 locations with 850 employees and bringing in $150 million annually at its peak. But since selling it in 2008, he’s had more distance from the business…