Twenty-five-year old Mike Patel's business motto is "smile and have our customer smile."It is that kind of customer service and well-stocked inventory that will make…
Twenty-five-year old Mike Patel’s business motto is “smile and have our customer smile.”
It is that kind of customer service and well-stocked inventory that will make a return customer out of Hambden’s Tom Henry, who recently visited the new RediGo Food Mart and Sunoco Gas Station in Hambden Corners Plaza.
A banner outside the plaza reading “Under New Ownership” announced the reopening of the previous Hambden Corners convenient store and gas station, now open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week just east of Chardon on the corner of Route 6 and 166.
“Someone young needed to step in,” Patel said of his first solo business venture.
RediGo Food Mart is a small scale grocery and beverage store selling bread, milk, soda, candy, grocery and sundry items.
“We have a huge selection of micro and craft beers, wine and all at state minimum prices, meaning lowest price allowed by state law,” Patel added.
RediGo’s Food Mart Marketing Director Angela Broski said the store is one of eight stores joining the group that formed in 2007 with Lake County stores in Painesville, Fairport Harbor, Madison and Perry. Seven of them were former Convenient Food Marts.
“We are the first one in Geauga County,” Patel said, adding while this is his first store, he’s always looking to expand.
“We are excited to expand in Geauga County and Mike will be a nice fit on our store model,” Broski said. “He has retail experience and shares our philosophy about store cleanliness and inventory levels.”
Patel lives in Painesville and earned a degree in Business Management from Rowan University. He has experience managing a few convenient stores in New Jersey.
With family in Painesville, the move seemed a natural fit for the self-proclaimed “non-city guy.”
“He’s got a lot of experience,” Patel’s cousin G. Patel said, helping him stock inventory at the store. “He has good ideas and knows what products to carry.”
Since RediGo is not a franchise or chain, store owners are free to stock what their customers want in a timely manner.
“Also, being a RediGo store with the purchase power we have, we will be able to compete with big box stores, and pass the savings onto our customers,” Patel said. “We will also be part of the Ohio lottery.”
Brian Smith, a district sales manager for Coca-Cola, recently surveyed the store, as music from John Legend played in the background.
“The product availability is tremendous,” Smith said.
“We have a nice coffee bar with at least five varieties now and will add more varieties as demand grows,” Patel said, with seasonal varieties such as Pumpkin Spice and a soon to be arriving Krispy Kreme doughnut display.
At the checkout, Henry chatted with Patel and smiled, walking away with his purchases.
“I am glad to see someone take over and expand the beer and wine selection,” said Henry, an eight-year Hambden resident. “Welcome to the township.”
Patel said he always wanted to be in a small community where he knows all of his customers and addresses their needs.
“Hambden Township needed a store in the area where our customers don’t have to drive five miles to get a gallon of milk or loaf of bread,” he added.
