The Grocery Store That Almost Wasn’t

I have a confession. Last week I went to Sullivan’s Foods twice in one hour. It’s just a few minutes away. Yes, I am spoiled. We have a terrific grocery store, deli, and liquor store all in one, in our town.

But, it almost didn’t happen. We can thank the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Mt. Morris that it did.

In 2012, Scott Sullivan, CEO of the regional Sullivan grocery store chain, bought the former M&M Supermarket, planning to open a new Sullivan’s store with the help of incentives from the Village. But discussions with the Village went nowhere. And the building was in such disrepair that it needed to be torn down and rebuilt to be viable. Without Village incentives, that was not a sound business endeavor. In frustration, Scott approached then Mt. Morris Village clerk Paula Diehl for help. She contacted the Economic Development Committee (EDC).

The EDC recognized that a grocery store was vitally important to our small town. They began working on a plan with Paula and Village board finance chair Mary Francis. Paula, who had established a mutually respectful and genuinely friendly relationship with Scott, worked between and with all the parties. EDC members and the Village board took several months to arrive at a mutually beneficial agreement that gave property tax and sales tax abatements to Sullivan’s Foods for a negotiated period.

During those months, Scott learned more about the EDC’s efforts to grow Mt. Morris and became interested in helping us attract residents and businesses. Thanks to Scott’s commitment to Mt. Morris, Sullivan’s stayed open for business during the entire construction phase so that we could still shop for groceries, despite how difficult that was for employees and builders.

Today, Sullivan’s Foods remains an anchor business in Mt. Morris. Although the Sullivan family no longer owns it, the new owners kept the name and continued the legacy of serving and supporting the community. Scott Sullivan stays in touch with Paula, still interested in helping Mt. Morris grow.

Thanks to the EDC, we have a busy and successful grocery store in our town so that we can “shop local.” One more reason to make My Town, your town.

Click the following links for a complete listing of all our businesses, and more EDC success stories.