It was a long sales process, but Kate Gonzalez is now officially the owner of Clor's Meat Market.

She's happy to finally get the deal done, even though she's already been working 15-hour days during the transition.

It's been worth it, she said, because Clor's is already experiencing business growth.

"We've added pizza and wings," Gonzalez said "Sometimes at night, it seems like we've become just a pizza and wing shop. The pizza and wing business has grown astronomically. Sometimes we can hardly keep up with it."

All the good stuff about Clor's -- the fresh meat, the chicken BBQ recipe -- all stay the same, she said.

Chuck Gugel, who acquired Clor's from Bud Clor in 1999, has moved to the Southwest with his wife, who needed to go to a drier climate for health reasons. His sons, Ryan, Aaron and Kyle, have stayed on with the business, as has Janis Lear as store manager.

Gonzalez has also hired a full-time baker and some of the store's counter space is now filled with fresh baked goods. The catering menu has also been expanded.

"I think the business is just going to keep growing and growing," Gonzalez said.

More than a year ago, Gonzalez acquired The Enchanted Florist on East Main Street, and her son Curtis Heatherman now runs it (and helps with Clor's). Kate's daughter Rachael Heatherman is helping to run Clor's.

Part of her motiviation for buying and expanding these businesses, Gonzalez said, is to create a legacy for her son and daughter and grandsons so they can benefit from successful local businesses someday. 

Pictured: Rachael Heatherman, Janis Lear, Curtis Heatherman, Michael Hyde Jr., and Kate Gonzalez.

The Batavia High School Girls Softball Team was at Clor's Meat Market today selling chicken BBQ dinners as a fundraiser for the team.

Despite the unrelenting rain, it was a busy day for Clor's Meat Market today -- with several groups needing Clor's one-of-a-kind BBQ chicken. So Chuck Gugel had a couple of employees set up BBQ pits in a vacant-lot area behind Faletti Ice Arena near the skate park off Evans Street. Pictured are Troy Colton, left, and William Griffin.

Chicken Bar-B-Q 

A steady stream of people stopped by Clor's Meat Market this afternoon to buy chicken BBQ dinners from the Batavia Area Jaycees. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the family of Jonathan Colby, who died in an auto accident on West Main Street Road, Batavia, April 20. Colby's wife, Cathy, is a member of the Jaycees.

Santa is visiting Clor's Meat Market, at Lewiston and Main streets in Batavia, today until 5 p.m.  There's also a chicken BBQ available and donors are asked to bring non-perishable food items for Don Carroll's Toys for Kids Toys and Food Drive.

Above, Hailey, 5, and Noah, 2, get a chance to let Santa know what they want for Christmas.