COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two longtime managers of a Clintonville market will soon take over as owners of the shop.
Weiland's Market -- a specialty grocery store selling fine meats, seafood and more -- announced Tuesday that managers Daniel Phillips and Andy Russell will become the owners as of April 1. Current owners Jennifer Williams and Scott Bowman explained their decision in a Facebook post.
"Our full commitment to the store has meant that we’ve had little time for anything else in our lives," the post read. "This was a choice we made in 2010, and we don’t regret it. At the same time, we’re not getting any younger, and you only get one life. We’re ready for our next chapter, and the long list of things that we still want to do."
The new owners have been with Weiland's for at least a decade, according to Williams and Bowman. Phillips started out with the market in meat production and said that he has worked in restaurants and kitchens his whole life. He went on to expand his services at Weiland's, working his way up through the meat department, moving on to seafood and more. Russell started out in produce as a team member stocking shelves. He moved his way up in the store, earning titles such as grocery manager and produce manager.
Weiland's was founded in 1961 by John Williams and George Weiland. In August 2011, his daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Scott took over.
Williams and Bowman said Weiland's is a place they have a personal connection to, and they wouldn't want to leave their treasured store in just anybody's hands. They said selling to Phillips and Russell was their best choice.
"We've loved being a part of the community here," Phillips said. "It's really an honor to be an even bigger part of the community and kind of help Weiland's continue to fit into the community."
"We have both worked here for a decade, a little bit more, and we've always tried to improve the store as we work here," Russell said. "We saw it grow and grow and grow under Jennifer and Scott and they've just done such a great job, and we just want to continue that legacy."
