Last Friday, The Sun was first to report the news that The Farms, a staple on Montana Avenue for more than four decades, would be closing its doors.
The reaction from readers was both immediate and overwhelming. Many expressed surprise. Others mourned the loss of a place that had become part of their daily neighborhood routine. The word that kept appearing in comments all over social media: “heartbreaking.”
Our story referenced some of the many circumstances and fiscal challenges that contributed to the McGuire family’s decision to move on.
Today, we received a letter from owner Carolyn McGuire, who offered a more detailed look at what was happening behind the scenes at The Farms. In it, she thanks the many employees and countless customers who contributed to the business for so many years.
We are reprinting it, unedited, below:
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to your October 16 article about the closing of The Farms. As the store’s sole owner, I would like to clarify the family history and provide context for this painful decision.
My husband, Michael McGuire, died unexpectedly in 2016. Our son, Sean McGuire, then took over management of the store. Sean was its manager, not its owner. His death in November 2025 was another heartbreaking loss for our family.
The Farms’ financial difficulties did not begin with Sean’s death. The store had been losing money for years following my husband’s passing. Although your article discusses the dispute involving the meat department’s former subcontractor, that dispute alone does not explain the store’s broader financial challenges.
Without experience running a grocery store myself, I sought professional help to understand the losses and determine whether the business could be saved. That review identified longstanding internal financial and operational problems that needed attention. Addressing those findings required difficult changes, including letting people go. I understand how upsetting those decisions were to employees and customers, and I did not make them lightly.
I continued contributing my own money in an effort to keep The Farms open. Ultimately, I could no longer sustain the losses. Closing the store is a deeply painful decision, with consequences for employees, customers, and my family.
I know The Farms has meant much more than a place to buy groceries. For many neighbors, it has been part of their daily lives and a place of familiar faces and friendships. To the employees who served our customers with care, and to everyone who supported the store over the years, I offer my sincere thanks.
I ask that the community consider the full history behind this decision and remember the work my husband, my son, and so many dedicated employees put into The Farms. Our family’s gratitude to Santa Monica remains, even as this chapter comes to an end.
Sincerely,
Carolyn McGuire
Owner, The Farms
The Farms will close after business on Friday, October 30.
