Stew Leonard's announced today that founder Stew Leonard Sr. has died. He was 93 years old.

The tri-state grocery chain posted a message on its Facebook page saying, "We are sad to announce that Stew Leonard, Sr., the founder of Stew Leonard's, passed away peacefully on April 26, 2023, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York."

Leonard was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1929 to the son of dairy farmers.
In December 1969, Stew Leonard’s opened its doors—a 17,000-square-foot store carrying just eight items.

The dairy store Leonard founded in Norwalk not only became the “World’s Largest Dairy store,” according to Ripley’s Believe It or Not, but also earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest dollar sales per square foot of selling space.

Those interested in leaving a message for the family are asked to visit their website. Click here.