After more than seven decades in downtown St. Paul, Eisenberg's Market is closing.

Matt Eisenberg, son of the current owner and a fourth-generation employee, said the closing day will be Oct. 27.

"It's been a long time coming," Eisenberg said. "We peaked about 10 years ago, and it's been on a downward slide since then."

The market, at 170 E. 10th St., went up for sale two years ago. Eisenberg said there's been interest but no deal yet.

The store is known for discounted food, goods close to their expiration dates and fruit that's a tick past its time. Eisenberg said it's tough for smaller grocers to compete with big-box retailers that sell goods and groceries.

Eisenberg Fruit opened in Minneapolis in 1932 and moved to its current St. Paul site in 1937.

Founder Max Eisenberg passed the store on to his son, Irving Eisenberg, who passed it along to his son, also named Max. Max, who is Matt's father, is 62 and hopes to retire. Matt, 38, said he is looking for a job in distribution.