Bryan and Brittingham owner Robin Breasure named Delmar Citizen of the Year

Robin Breasure didn’t have time to join community organizations; she worked six days a week managing Bryan and Brittingham. But, under her leadership, the business made a large impact on the community in many ways. For her contributions to support Delmar over the last 40 years through the local hardware store, Breasure has been named the 2026 Delmar Citizen of the Year. The annual honor is sponsored by the Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce.

“I was shocked. I’m sure there’s a hundred people more worthy of the honor than I am,” Breasure said. “It’s an honor. I appreciate it very much. I didn’t expect it.”

Over the years, Bryan and Brittingham have given back to the town by supporting the Delmar VFW, the high school football and field hockey teams, Delmar Little League and youth basketball programs, local church events, 4-H groups, and more. Fundraisers were held at the store to support Delaware Hospice, Women Supporting Women, and other local organizations. The store also sponsored horse events across the shore for all disciplines.

“We just tried to support local and did what we could,” said Breasure.

The store, its owners, and employees, cared about their customers.

“When someone came in and we asked how they were, we meant it. We cared about our people, their pets, the good and the bad,” she said.

Breasure has lived in the Delmar area her whole life. In her junior year of high school, she started with Trudy’s Hair Happenings and remained there until April of 1982, when she quit to raise her son, Clint (born in May 1982). In April of 1986, she began her 40-year journey at Bryan and Brittingham.

The store first opened in 1951. Robin’s father, Bob Messick, Sr., started working there for his uncle, Reese Brittingham, in 1960. Brittingham had bought out Bill Bryan’s share in the business before Bob and June Messick bought the store in 1971. They made major additions to the store in the 80’s and 90’s.

While working at the family business for 40 years may not have been expected, Breasure enjoyed the experience.

“It just kind of happened,” said Breasure. “It has truly been my pleasure to be a part of their (customers’) lives. I met a lot of nice people, watched a lot of kids grow up and now they have kids.”

Breasure said the decision to close Bryan and Brittingham earlier this year was not an easy one.

“It was bittersweet,” she said. Breasure, her husband, and brother are all 60 or older. Loading and unloading tons of feed, six days a week, takes a physical toll, not to mention the mental aspect of everything. In February of 2025, Mrs. Messick passed away after being homebound due to illness for the previous 15 years.

“That and with the loss of several customers and friends, we realized life is short, and maybe we should start spending more time with our family and friends,” she said.

Robin and her husband, Jeff, plan to work a couple days a week to stay active and be around people. Their son and daughter-in-law, Clint and Jessica, live outside of Las Vegas, and they hope to visit them more often. Their bonus family, Matt, Samantha, and children, Reighlynn and Hunter, live next door, and Breasure is looking forward to keeping the kids when needed and maybe a couple of boat rides now and then.

Bryan and Brittingham closed its doors being one of the top 10 Purina dealerships on the East Coast. The store received recognition from Purina over the years, for growth incentives and tonnage.

“The nice words and kind comments, the last couple of weeks we were open, through texts, cards, visits and calls, meant more than all the awards,” Breasure said. Also stating they had no idea of the impact that the company had on so many people along the way. “It was nice to know that we meant so much to so many people.”

Breasure is thankful for current and former employees. “I hope they knew how much we appreciated them, that we felt we worked with them and that they didn’t just work for us,” stated Breasure.

A banquet to honor Robin will be held on Wednesday, May 20 at the Delmar VFW. A dinner consisting of beef, mashed potatoes, and green beans will be served.  Ticket price per person is $23.

Tickets can be purchased by contacting Lisa Ellis at 410-430-7720 or through PayPal by sending payment to in*********@*****st.net.  Deadline for tickets is Tuesday, May 12.