"I was blessed without a doubt, the best group of associates that worked for me then and that remains my friends now,” said a tearful Newell Berkey, former store manager of the JC Penney at the old Northgate Plaza.

Those are some of the emotions around the table at this Italian eatery in Gates.

"Being able to share my time with them is just precious,” said Berkey.

This group has a special bond as former co-workers at the department store.

"We're like sisters and brothers. We're family,” said Marion Smith, a one-time sales associate.

The store closed 20 years ago, but that bond never went away.

"Every other month we have dinner and every week some of us have breakfast, still in all that time,” said Linda Elliott, the one-time store auditor.

Tuesday night's meeting marks a 20-year milestone for the Penney Associates.

"I think just being a small store and just neighborhood people, you met the people in the neighborhood who used shop there, so you see them on the streets today, so it's very cool,” said Smith.

It also marks decades of memories for Linda Elliott.

“Sidewalk sales were awesome,” she said.

It's an occasion Newell Berkey drove in from out of town to be a part of.

"These are the things you can't take away. That money can't buy."

This is a celebration that has the Penney Associates looking back on their experience, and although the store is gone...

"We went over when they demolished it and we stole bricks," said Linda.

... it's their favorite memories that will last a lifetime.