Eikenberry’s IGA Foodliner in Greenville has served the community since 1929. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

Eikenberry’s IGA Foodliner has served the Greenville and Darke County community in far western Ohio since 1929.

The store at 1120 Sweitzer St. in Greenville has thrived because of great customer service, quality products and commitment to community service. It’s part of a larger chain of grocery stores that has existed since 1926.

Eikenberry’s IGA has been family owned and operated since the beginning and has employed several generations’ worth of employees as baggers, stockers and clerks.

IGA, or Independent Grocers Alliance, was founded in 1926 to bring family owned, local grocery stores together under a single brand. Nearly a century later, the support of a nationally known brand continues to give IGA grocers the ability to better compete with larger chains.

There are about 50 IGA stores in Ohio, mostly in smaller cities and towns.

I have been a customer at a number of IGAs, including Baltimore IGA and Hogue’s IGA in Bellevue when I lived in those towns. We’ve stopped in at Stake’s IGA in Loudonville and Rohde’s IGA in Millersburg for food and supplies when camping in the Mohican area and visiting Amish country.

In every IGA store I have ever visited, the service is efficient and friendly, and the food choices in the aisles, in the cases and on the shelves are of consistently high quality. In addition, I’ve found that stores like these are likely to carry fresh local produce and other products of the local and state economy.

Eikenberry’s IGA Foodliner, as well as other IGA stores, has a reputation for excellent grocery and produce, meats, deli and bakery departments.

The organization also allows the stores to stay true to who they are — hometown store owners in a position to meet the needs of their unique communities. Today, communities across the U.S. are being served by second, third and even fourth generation local IGA grocers.

Buehler’s Fine Foods, based in Wooster, with 13 stores in northeastern Ohio, and Reisbeck’s Food Markets, headquartered in St. Clairsville, with 16 stores in eastern Ohio, are two other Ohio-based chains that emphasize community and customer service and high-quality foods.

There are also many other smaller, independently owned grocery stores that go the extra mile in providing community service and great food choices for customers.

My family enjoys going to the Ashery Country Store near Mt. Hope, Countryside Bulk Foods and Rittberger North Market in Zanesville, and Mill’s Bulk Food & Deli in Adamsville for special items and a change of pace. Folks in McConnelsville enjoy the town’s Kroger store for great foods and service as well.

The Kroger grocery store in McConnelsville may be small, but they provide great customer service. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Next time you’re in a smaller community and have some time, stop in a locally owned grocery store and have a look — you will probably be pleasantly surprised.

Find more grocery stores in Ohio in Dusty Tires.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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