After doing business on Cooperstown's Main Street for almost 50 years, Jim Tongue has decided it's time to retire.

Tongue said last week he will liquidate the business and close the doors of The Cupboard in mid-March.

A deal is in the works to sell the building, but because no one has signed on the dotted line yet, he declined to discuss the future of the building.

"We have not closed yet on the building, but we are closing the store and liquidating the business," he said. "I'm realy sorry it had to come to this, but I'll be 62 and it's time to retire."

Tongue said he has no big plans for his retirement, but is looking forward to getting out on the golf course more often and spending more time riding his vintage Honda 750 motorcycle.

Every morning there is a steady stream of people coming and going at The Cupboard to pick up their morning newspapers and Tongue said someone is interested in taking over the newspaper sales. There is also someone who has expressed interest in becoming a Hallmark dealer.

Tongue said his parents purchased the business in October of 1953 when it was located further down Main Street where Rudy's Liquor is now.

At that time, the business was a Sealtest Ice Cream Flavorland and Tongue was kept busy in his first job as a soda jerk.

In 1954, his parents added the Hallmark line of cards and gifts and made other changes as the business evolved into the present day Cupboard. In 1963, they moved to the current location which was originally one-half the size it is now. The store's sales floor has been expanded three times over the years and it is a survivor of the 1987 fire which left the building with much smoke and water damage.

"The guys in the fire department did a fabulous job," Tongue said.

Fires have played a significant role in Tongue's tenure on Main Street and helped shape its appearance today.

Tongue rattled off a half-dozen major fires over the years - the dry cleaners in 1958, the Freeman's Journal fire, the Red & White store where TJ's is now located, and the blazes at Dusty's Tavern and the Pioneer Grill all took their toll in the business district.

But appearances aren't the only changes on Main Street. Much of the diversity is long gone - having given way to baseball stores over the years.

"A men's clothing store, a show store - they've all been here. They all tried and they all failed," he said.

Tongue said he won't miss being open seven-days-a-week, but will miss all the customers who stop in the store regularly and are the foundation of his business. And like any good, small businessperson, Tongue appreciates the important role his employees have played in making The Cupboard a success.

Deanna Ashurt, who has been working at The Cupboard for seven years and 18-year veteran Barb Kubis, have both been "great, great employees," he said.

Kubis agreed with Tongue that she will miss all the customers you get to know when they stop each day to pick up their paper year after year.

She said she loves working with people and will hate to see The Cupboard close, but she has had some employment offers that look very promising.

"We're all going to miss it badly, but we've had a great run. It's been a ball, really," Tongue said.