Kroger - A Perry St. Landmark for 45 Years
January 26, article one

PIX# 1 Kroger’s Matt Steinmetz received a clock in honor of his 20 years with the store. For 45 years Kroger and its employees have been providing the best in customer service at the Perry St. location. With Matt are Associate Manager Mark Sears (l) and Manager Mike Teggart (r).

The Fostoria High School Bank marched from the downtown. Mayor Ray Coburn wielded the scissors in a blue ribbon cutting ceremony. Many other important officials were on hand. It was Tuesday August 12, 1952. The occasion was the grand opening of the new Kroger “Super-Market” on Perry St.

Prior to the opening ceremonies at 9 a.m., the band marched from downtown and played a few selections. After the mayor cut the ribbon, Kroger Store Manager Alex Howard presented a $50 check to FHS Band Director Richard Downs.

Mr. Howard then gave Mayor Coburn a personal tour of the new store after which the Mayor pronounced the new Kroger “another step forward in the progress of Fostoria.”

Following that the doors opened for business as usual. The Review-Times reported that “Hundreds swarm(ed)” to the new store to shop on that first day of business.

The Kroger Co. Had its beginnings in 1883 when Barney Kroger took $722 and founded the Cincinnati based Great Western Tea Co. Ever an innovator, Kroger’s stores were the first groceries to have a meat department.

In 1928 Kroger sold his grocery business to a New York investment firm for the tidy little sum of $28 million, a modest return on that $722 investment. By 1983, the company’s 100th anniversary, the Kroger chain had grown to 1,199 stores.

The Fostoria Kroger joined in the 100th anniversary celebration. Manager Allen Thomas even donned some 1880's style clothes and sold hot dogs and Cokes for the old-time price of two bits.

The new Fostoria Kroger made its mark on the company before its first year of operation was complete. On Wednesday Nov. 13, 1952, a Kroger industrial engineer came to town to film the unloading, checking, price stamping and shelf stocking operations here.

The film was used to train Kroger managers and personnel nationwide. Local employees involved in the film were manager Alex Howard, head stock man Henry Howard, Douglas Boster, Nathan Krupp, Chalmer Riggle, Jim Ward, Melvin Leedy, Ronny Angles, Ronny Griffin, Richard Beech and Bernard Willom.

In June 1953 the new store won Kroger’s “Mrs. Smith Trophy” for the district. The trophy was awarded on the basis of cleanliness, friendliness, freshness of produce and convenience as determined by unannounced inspections. In addition to the trophy, all employees received initialed wallets.

That cleanliness, friendliness, freshness and convenience has paid off over the years as hundreds of residents shop at Kroger each day. In fact, on New Year’s Eve 1986 every checked lane was open to accommodate the 1,500 shoppers who besieged Mike Teggart and his employees.

Christmas and New Year’s eves are the two heaviest shopping days of the year at Kroger. Fifteen hundred shoppers represent 10 percent of Fostoria’s population.

In 44 years the Kroger on Perry St. has had only three store managers. The first, of course, was Alex Howard. At the time he gave Mayor Coburn his tour at the grand opening, Alex was already a long time veteran of the grocery business, having started as a potato bagger at the Kroger store on S. Main St. in 1936. He managed the Perry St. Kroger from its opening until his retirement in 1980. In over a quarter century of running the store, Alex developed a firm belief in good employee and customer relations.

“The biggest thing in business is friendship. People are what make your business,” he once told the Review-Times.

In 1976 Alex received Kroger Veep Award given annually to the manager of the store that ranks first in its area in friendliness, cost control, efficiency, service and cleanliness.

But even after 1980 Alex’s expertise was called upon at Kroger. In 1988 he came out of retirement to judge the Fostoria Kroger Bag Off. Chad Brandeberry was declared champ in a 13 bagger competition. Alex judged the contestants on proper use of bags, weight distribution, and speed. (Now you can judge baggers for yourself the next time you’re waiting in the check-out line.)

Its not just store managers who receive awards from Kroger. In July 1988 Bob Kleinfelter, a 1981 SWHS grad, won the Kroger Stock Exchange Essay Contest for a piece he wrote on the topic of responsiveness to customer needs. Bob received an all expenses paid trip to the Kroger annual stockholders’ meeting in Cincinnati.

When Kroger opened on Perry St. in 1952, it occupied about 8,000 sq. Ft. Over the years its physical expansion has matched the growth in customer service. On Sept. 7, 1976 Kroger opened its full service deli. The addition of deli meats and cheeses, baked goods and prepared main dishes furthered Alex Howard’s goal of making Kroger a complete store.

At the same time, the produce department changed from packaged to bulk and package selections giving the customer a wider choice.

In April 1981 Kroger completed a 10,500 sq. ft. $1.3 million expansion making additional space for the deli section and the meat and produce departments. A flow shop and cheese shot were also added. Alex Howard cut the ribbon for the grand re-opening which introduced the Perry St. operation as a Kroger “Superstore” with 75 employees offering 16,000 varieties of dry groceries, 750 types of frozen foods and 250 meat selections.

By early 1985 Kroger had grown to more than 35,000 sq. ft. Manager Allen Thomas explained the successful growth to the Review-Times. “(Y)”ou have to have a special dedication to giving customer’s what they want at a competitive price and with above-average service.”

From 1980-85 Allen Thomas managed the store. On April 28, 1985 a 32 year old Elyria native took over the local Kroger after having managed the Ashtabula Kroger. That fellow is current Kroger manager, Mike Teggart.

A 16-year Kroger employee when he took over here, Mike has also attended the Kroger Educational Center. At the time Mike set his sights on the development of good employee relations and the best possible customer service.

Good community relations are also a priority for Mike and it shows in Kroger’s involvement in community activities. The Fostoria Kroger donated three percent of its gross sales on Saturday Nov. 22, 1986 to the Fr. Edmund Morman Scholarship Fund. Fr. Morman, who served several area parishes was tragically killed in a traffic accident earlier that year. The scholarship fund benefitted New Riegel High School students going on to college.

In Nov. 1986 Kroger’s staged a “Co-shoperation” benefit for Camp Fire, once again donating three percent of gross sales. In April1988 the Fostoria Kroger team of Bec Beck, Dawn McGowan, Mary Bentz, Karen Brostman, Mark Brostman, Scott Griffin, Andy Smith, Jeff Doe, Mike Teggard, Matt and Diane Steinmetz, Annette Lorah, Cheryl and Brian Koby, Bill Palmerton and Jeff and Marsha Smith took part in the Toledo Area March of Dimes and raised $518.

Fostoria Kroger employees are also staunch supporters of the United Way campaign. In 1990 they increased their pledges 16.5 percent, making the average contribution $107.

Even when the folks at Kroger win some cash for themselves, they sometimes just give it away. In 1990 the employees won $100 for having the top float in the Rotary Club Christmas Parade, which they turned around and donated to the Children’s Dept. At the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library.

During the last weekend of June 1991 Krogers and A&W Root Beer jointly sponsored Root Beer Float Days. All proceeds from the sale of those tasty little confections were donated to Easter Seals.

In Sept. 1992 Lakota East Schools were the beneficiary of Kroger’s Bucks for Books project. Lakota East students, parents and staff collected special Kroger gold register tapes redeemable for free schoolbooks.

Kroger growth continued unabated. On Monday Nov. 13, 1989 Mike Teggart presided over the opening of the Kroger Pharmacy with Lee Martin as pharmacy manager.

Today the commitment to customer service remains the lynchpin of Kroger Fostoria operation. Recently Kroger has added Federal Express service, Columbia Gas payment, Western Union and pharmacy prescription delivery. In addition Wednesday is five percent senior discount day. Kroger is the only local grocery open 24 hours daily.

Store Manager Mike Teggard says, “I would like to say thank you to our customers for shopping with us the last 40 years and I’d like to thank our employees for serving our customers.”

By now most everyone knows that the Kroger advertising insert comes in your Fostoria Focus each week.

“About four months ago we decided to place our ad insert with the Fostoria Focus,” said Mike. “If anyone doesn’t get their insert, please call Kroger or the Focus. We are happy to have the Focus as part of the Kroger family and we’re happy to be a part of the Focus family.”

The Perry St. Kroger store has been in business for nearly 45 years. But like most places that have been around that long, it’s more than just a business. It’s a part of Fostoria, a place where you might run into a neighbor while rummaging through bananas in the produce section or visit with an old classmate as you’re contemplating the relative merits of Shredded Wheat versus Cocoa Puffs.

The Focus wishes all the folks at Kroger 45 more successful years. After all, to stay in business, Kroger, like any retailer, must make a profit. It must bring home the bacon, make a little cabbage, so as to pay the hired help an adequate celery. We don’t say this just to appease-e anyone either. It’s the very meat of the matter, not just small potatoes. But we could be milking this beyond endurance and people may have other fish to fry. Therefore, lettuce end this before things get too corny.