Lexington ham store closing: ‘Going to be very hard to walk away from it.’

History is repeating itself for a local ham store: For the second time in a decade the store has lost its lease.

Hager Hams has been told to move out of Regency Centre. For Louis Hager, owner of Hager Hams, it’s a move too far. He announced on social media that his business will be closing before the end of the month after 35 years.

Hager said the owners of the Regency Centre building on Lowry Lane have another tenant moving in so Hager Hams has to be out by Feb. 28.

The Vietnamese restaurant next door, Pho BC/Black Pearl, also is moving but just down the row of shops, he said.

It’s brought back memories of February 2013, when Hager’s store, then called Heavenly Ham, was forced to move from The Mall at Lexington Green.

“I already moved from Lexington Green to here, so I decided I’m not going to go through a move again. I’m 61, I don’t want to go through that again. I’m trying to sell the business but if not then it will just shut down,” Hager said. He’s had the business listed with a broker and has talked to some potential buyers but the right person hasn’t come forward yet.

He posted the news on his Facebook page on Wednesday, letting customers know that he won’t be around to provide hams for Easter, let alone next Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Besides spiral cut hams, Hager also sells boxed lunches, smoked turkey, ribs and bacon.

“I was blown away, after we made the post yesterday on Facebook, the response and comments have been overwhelming,” Hager said. “This store and this business is like family to me. It’s going to be very hard to walk away from it.”

RJ Thieneman, the Louisville real estate company that manages the Lexington shopping center, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on what will be going into the Regency Centre space.