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GEORGETOWN — It’s the little grocery retailer that would.
That’s the impetus behind the hassle to get the neighborhood to step as much as save its Save A Lot grocery retailer at 204 Huffman St., a few block off Illinois 1.
Darren Alexander, identified within the space for his concession enterprise, meals vehicles and catering enterprise, and his spouse put in a proposal to purchase the grocery retailer that was going bankrupt.
One of the house owners handed away and the opposite couldn’t hold it going.
“It was four hours from closing, and odds are it was probably going to close for good,” Alexander stated.
When a retailer is shut down for a time frame and gear isn’t operating correctly, it may be costly to exchange gadgets and get it reopened, he stated.
So Alexander and his fellow buyers, Sean Lagacy and his daughter, Makaelyn, determined to step up.
“We didn’t want to see the store close,” Alexander stated.
He stated Georgetown residents don’t wish to journey far for a loaf of bread — and never everybody has the power to take action.
Georgetown wants its grocery retailer, and “the three of us came up with this crazy, crazy plan,” Alexander stated about maintaining the shop regionally owned.
Under an settlement, they gained management of the shop beginning in September, and town of Georgetown helped with a enterprise grant.
“I’m glad the store stayed. I didn’t want it to fail,” stated Mayor Darin Readnour.
Alexander stated they gained’t take full possession of the enterprise till all previous debt, which is within the lots of of 1000’s of {dollars}, is paid off.
He stated they’re new to the grocery business and have put in numerous hours and their very own investments, due to a want to assist the neighborhood.
Alexander stated they’re not taking a paycheck.
“It’s all about keeping the store open for the community,” he stated.
Many residents additionally want a reduction grocery retailer, he added, attributable to their restricted funds.
He stated the shop is totally stocked up and so they simply opened a brand new deli, which serves fried rooster and different meals and has a drive-thru window.
“It’s been nothing but a success and keeps growing and growing,” he stated. “We must be doing something right.”
He stated the shop has additionally had a go to from Save A Lot’s East Coast-based president and CEO, which speaks volumes.
Alexander stated he and his fellow buyers simply hope the neighborhood continues to assist it.
They’re additionally proud to maintain its staff, together with Missy Rollins, who has labored there for 20 years.
Rollins stated she’s seen the shop change fairly just a few instances with totally different house owners. It’s been a Save A Lot since 2017.
Rollins stated it’s nice that the neighborhood nonetheless has the shop and has individuals who step up.
Alexander is a 53-year resident of Georgetown.
“The Lord’s blessed me and all of us and the community,” he stated.
He stated he and his fellow buyers have been in a lucky place to have the ability to do that, and reiterated that the principle purpose was maintaining the shop in the neighborhood.
The new deli part sells Champs rooster and a few of the Alexanders’ different catering specials, reminiscent of Italian beef.
They have an app too.
“It’s a little bit of everything for everybody,” Alexander stated.