ARCHIVE

Future looks bright for Florence grocery store

New store owner knows what it takes to have a good store

Staff reporter

Will Carpenter is fulfilling a lifelong dream — to own several grocery stores in smaller communities.

The new owner of the former Florence Market, now called Wilbur's Market, understands community needs.

"It's an absolute necessity for small towns to have their own grocery stores," Carpenter said.

Carpenter also owns a grocery store in Towanda and Potwin.

No stranger to the grocery business, Carpenter has been in the business since he was 16 years old, owning the other two stores for eight years.

"Except for a two-year break, I've been in the business for 30 years," Carpenter said.

Plans for the Florence store will include reorganizing the store in January. Some items will be moved around and condensed, and organizing items more like a traditional grocery store, Carpenter said.

In the spring, Carpenter plans to remodel the store and increase product selection.

Carpenter officially took over ownership Nov. 15, a busy time of year for grocery stores.

"It's been pretty hectic," Carpenter said. "Business has been good."

He plans to retain the same warehouse that served Florence Market, Affiliated Foods of Norfolk, Neb., which also is the same warehouse Carpenter uses at his other two stores.

Carpenter has a manager in his other stores to oversee day-to-day operations. He plans to train a manager to operate the Florence location as well.

New employees currently are being trained, Carpenter said.

"I'll be able to mold these new folks into what I expect," Carpenter said. Maintaining good customer service, a full service meat counter, and being a positive member of the community are Carpenter's and his employees' goals.

Carpenter has a total of 20 employees at the three locations and is looking for a couple more at the Florence store.

Carpenter and his family live between Towanda and El Dorado. His wife, Ann, is a juvenile justice administrator with the 13th Judicial District of Butler County.

They have three children, ages 19, 17, and 15.

Wanting to live closer to Florence, Carpenter said he and his wife are considering relocating between Potwin and Florence, when his youngest son graduates from high school in two years.

"It's important to me to be a good member of a community," Carpenter said, "and I plan to be that."

Quantcast