Lisa Minder admittedly didn’t pick the best time to open a grocery store. But South Wheeling Grocery, located at 3801 Jacob St. in Wheeling is chugging right along, despite COVID and has been since mid-Fall.
Minder and her staff of two are still learning the wants and needs of the local community, so the store’s selection is constantly evolving.
“A lot of people are coming in to buy drinks and snacks right now, so it has more of a convenience store feel,” Minder admitted. “But we are hoping to sell other things, and it’s still evolving. We ask people what they want. There’s no reason to dictate what we’re carrying, so it’ll evolve to whatever it needs to be to serve the community.”
That community will be growing within the next year as two apartment complexes are being constructed by the Woda Group. Carnegie Greene, a senior apartment complex, was recently approved by the City of Wheeling for 39th and Jacob streets. Down the street, another complex is Hobbs Greene currently under construction at 37th and Jacob and should be completed within the year.
Those additions, along with easing of COVID restrictions as the pandemic lessons and the vaccinated start to outnumber the unvaccinated should help bring new and more frequent customers to Minder’s store.
“This was the worst time to open,” Minder admitted with a laugh. “COVID hit us hard, and not a lot of people know about us so it’s not an easy time to open a small grocery store.
“But I feel like we are ahead of the curve with Hobbs Greene and Carnegie Green being constructed.”
Making Adjustments/Big Things Coming
South Wheeling Grocery originally opened to Monday through Sunday service. But as restrictions returned, a couple of employees had to be let go, and hours were reduced. It’s a story not limited to new businesses given the times.
Current hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. The store is closed on Sundays, for now, but that could change in the future.
“If it gets busier, we’ll open again on Sunday,” Minder said. “But everyone needs a day off, and I couldn’t afford to hire too many staff. There is one full-time employee, my manager, along with a part-time employee plus myself.”
Despite the difficulties, the store is making it, offering up an assortment of items, from drinks and snack foods, to frozen and ready-made foods, soups and noodles, baked goods, hygiene products, and other essentials. Beer and cigarettes are also available.
Once the kitchen is finished being renovated, Minder plans to add a deli to the grocery store. Currently, any South Wheeling residents wishing for deli services have to travel north to Jebbia’s Market in Center Wheeling.
“Once the kitchen is fully renovated, the deli will be opened, and we’re hoping to be able to sell other products as well,” said Minder, who mentioned they will also be offering locally made frozen and packaged pierogis. “Anyone that is interested in selling out of the store, I’m willing to talk to them.”
It’s worked well for Yorkville Bakery products thus far. Every Wednesday South Wheeling Grocery receives its shipment from the bakery and rarely do the products make it through the day.
“That case empties out quickly,” Minder said. “But with COVID, you never know who is coming through. You have a lot of people who don’t want to go out, so sometimes I order too much; sometimes it’s not enough.”
Delivery Available
South Wheeling Grocery does offer delivery service to anyone living in South Wheeling. All a customer needs to do is give the store a call and detail what items are needed, and Linda or one of her staff will make the delivery.
Curbside pickup is also available to all customers and isn’t location limited. As volume and demand grows, Minder said she is open to third-party delivery services like Door Dash or Instacart.
Produce and fruit delivery is also an option.
“We also want to start a fruit and vegetable pickup,” Minder said. “If people want to order produce, just call in, and we can deliver.”
She explained when first opening she kept fresh produce on the shelves, but there wasn’t an initial demand for it. Now that’s limited only to delivery, but again, with the impending population increase in the vicinity, that could change as needs dictate.
Minder is a Wheeling native, growing up in the Elm Grove section. But her mother once worked behind the counter at Niehaus Grocery, which was formerly located in the same building she currently leases.
The owner of the building is Richard Niehaus, so for Minder, it felt right reopening a grocery store at the site of the former Niehaus Grocery.
“I love South Wheeling,” Minder said. “It has an amazing history and it really should be valued more than it has been. It’s poised for rejuvenation.”
South Wheeling does appear to be making a comeback. You have the two living complexes being constructed. Appalachian Outreach moved in down the street, and the recent announcement of a Lebanese Bakery, which isn’t open, yet, going in next door to Minder has generated quite a lot of buzz.
