Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

Improvements under way by new Max Mart convenience store owners in Meriden

by Sara Peterson-Davis

While his previous jobs haven’t completely prepared Jeff Feyh for running a retail liquor store or a convenience store, they have been very informative.

Photo by Sara Peterson-Davis

New business owners Angie and Jeff Feyh

In August, Feyh and his wife, Angie, bought the Max Mart convenience store and Becker Retail Liquor in Meriden. Before buying the businesses, Feyh worked for a grocery store, a wholesale beverage supplier and, most recently, a commercial insurance underwriter with experience in issuing policies to convenience stores.

“I know enough to make me dangerous,” said Feyh, who took control of the businesses Aug. 5.

The Feyhs bought Max Mart and
Becker Retail Liquor from Dustin
Becker and Ashley Coleman. Thebrother and sister inherited the businesses from their father, Danny Becker, a few years earlier.

Feyh, an agent with Federated Insurance, first told Becker and Coleman he was interested in buying the businesses when he visited them with a quote for a policy. A couple of weeks later, the businesses went up for sale.

The Feyhs, Becker and Coleman began talking about the sale in December 2008. Lenders’ reluctance to loosen their purse strings in the current economy slowed the process. The Feyhs worked with local lenders and Jefferson County Economic Development Director Jim McGrath to work their current and potential future financing.

“The Beckers were very patient,” said Angie Feyh, who works as secretary for the Jefferson West Intermediate School in Ozawkie. “They really believed in us.”

Last weekend, the Feyhs celebrated their grand opening for the stores. The event featured Topeka radio station 94 Country, Pepsi, hamburgers and hot dogs, as well as a contest to possibly rename the businesses.

In the two months since they bought Max Mart and Becker Liquor, the Feyhs have kept busy on all sorts of projects from replacing light bulbs, ballasts and a fryer to restriping and powerwashing the parking lot. They have also painted the convenience store’s interior and reset the shelves in the liquor store.

“It’s amazing all the pieces to the puzzle,” said Angie Feyh. “It’s been a challenge.”

Along with working on the stores’ infrastructure, the couple has restocked and expanded the stores’ inventory. On the liquor store side Feyh, who once worked for Standard Beverage Corp., hopes to increase the store’s wine selection, as well as offer more competitive pricing on the store’s beer selection.

“I really want to grow the wine selection,” Feyh said. “If people have suggestions (of wines they’d like stocked) that would be welcome.”

In the future, Feyh said he would like to add premium coffee and a slushy machine to the Max Mart.

For a community like Meriden, Angie Feyh said a convenience store is an important resource. Area residents look to Max Mart as a place to buy gas, gather for morning coffee or an after school pop, pick up a gallon of milk or a convenient meal.

“I just think it’s a focal point for the community,” she said.

The Feyhs live near Village Greens Golf Course off of K-92. Their daughter, Nicole, is a sophomore at Jefferson West High School.

Between the two businesses, the Feyhs employ 12.

Along with the space that holds the convenience and liquor stores, the property also has a small apartment on the second floor and a large space in the basement that was once a bar.

While they plan to refurbish the apartment and offer it for rent, the Feyhs said any plans for the basement area are on hold.

For now they said they are concentrating on making Max Mart and Becker Liquor the kind of place where people frequent for its clean surroundings, excellent selection and friendly service.

“I’ve really enjoyed having people come in and saying “Wow!” Angie Feyh said. “I’ve really enjoyed the positive comments.”