After 50 years, Woods store clerk rings up last customer

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — In retail, a profession that routinely sees employees come and go, Howard Lettner has been a welcome, friendly constant.

The veteran store clerk at Merit Woods Pharmacy in Grosse Pointe Woods has been working behind the register for the last 50 years. But like all good things, this, too, is coming to an end: Lettner was slated, at press time, to retire July 26.

“I just want to spend time with my lovely wife,” said Lettner, whose wife retired from her job at a nearby bank in February. “Family means a whole lot (to me).”

Lettner, who’ll turn 69 later this year, was just a teenager when he started working at the store. When he was 18, a friend of his worked at Merit Woods, so he decided to apply there as well.

The St. Clair Shores resident and his wife have two adult sons, the younger of whom is getting married in October.

When new owners purchased the store about four years ago, one employee recalled the workers worrying about whether Lettner would stay. He did — something Lettner, his colleagues and his customers were happy about. Lettner said his new bosses “are superb.”

Over the years, Lettner said, he’s become friends with many of his customers, and he wanted to thank them “for being such great people.”

“That’s what was the hardest (part of the) decision — (saying goodbye to) my customers,” Lettner said. “And I’ll miss my co-workers.”

His customers say they’ll miss Lettner, too.

Darryl John, of Harper Woods, not only has known Lettner for years, but also worked with Lettner’s wife. John said Lettner “always provided good service.”

“(He’s) very nice, very friendly, very informative,” said John, who wished Lettner well as he starts this new chapter in his life.

Robert “Bob” Grosscup, of Grosse Pointe Farms, said he’s known Lettner for more than 40 years.

“I have always called Howard ‘Mr. Customer Service,’” Grosscup said via email. “He is always pleasant and most helpful.”

Grosscup said by email that he and all Lettner’s other customers were wishing Lettner “the very best in his retirement.”