Building on a strong business

Taking over a business can be an adventure, and Tim and Ana Sublette are excited for their start at Monroe Foods. The couple bought the grocery store from long-time owners Pete and Priscilla Peterson in August after joking about the prospect for months.

“I was at Frito-Lay and I took this route. It was the first Tuesday and I came out here and Priscilla happened to be right there when I walked in” Tim said. “I said ‘Hi, I’m Tim,’ and she said ‘I’ve already heard about you. You’ve been with Frito-Lay forever.’ She said I don’t need to tell you everything but you have this and that, but I am not going to hold your hand and walk you through this place. At that point, I took my hat off and jokingly threw it on the ground and said, ‘What do you mean you’re not going to hold my hand?’ She just instantly started laughing and said it was awesome. I came back a couple more times but still hadn’t met Pete. When I finally did, I didn’t have a hat on, and I always do, and he said, ‘No hat throw for me?’”

That was the start of a relationship that would end with the Petersons handing over the keys to their business to the Sublettes. It took a few months for the seed to sprout and the idea of owning a small town grocery store to become a reality for the Des Moines-based pair.

“I kept coming in and just asked if there were any hits on the store. He turned to me one day and said I’d be perfect for it. I said ‘Sure, Pete, OK,’ gave him two thumbs up and kind of walked out. That was last November,” Tim said.

“That was when he mentioned it to me,” Ana said. “He would say it jokingly for months until in March I said, ‘Do you want to do this?’ We also saw the video that was put out on Facebook and knew that is why we liked the store.”

Tim and Ana made a trip to Monroe to meet with Pete and Priscilla and take a closer look at the store. They also found they have quite a few similarities with the couple they took over for.

“Pris would always tell me he sees himself in you. Then, when he met her he said he saw Pris in her,” Ana said. “We just fit right in with them.”

Joining in a small town business landscape can be scary and a little challenging, but the Sublettes said it has been a smooth transition.

“We love it. The community is amazing. I think that is what blew me away about all of this,” Ana said. “It is a different pace than what Des Moines is, so it is neat. It is a lot of fun and we like it a lot.”

The community was introduced to the couple at Old Settlers in August when they were brought on stage with Pete and Priscilla.

“At Old Settlers it made us feel like celebrities,” Tim said. “We got hugs and handshakes.”

They don’t look to make a lot of changes to the business, especially right away. What once was Bart’s owned by the late Bart Huetter and became Pete’s, eventually named Monroe Foods, has a system down that works in the community.

“There is a lot to learn. A lot. It is a well-oiled machine, so why change it,” Ana said. “Pete had it going great. It is really just stepping into the shoes.”

Of the new adventure, Tim said he is most excited to work with his wife everyday. It may be a little stressful sometimes, but they compliment each other and bring out the best for the store.

“We’ve been married for a number of years but you learn a lot when you are with each other all day, everyday,” Tim said. “I came from all grocery, so the retail side. She is the consumer. She’ll tell me I want that area cleared off and I’ll say, OK but we have to have it this way. We work together really well.”

Not having the grocery background, Ana didn’t really know what she was getting into on a day-to-day basis. So far, she is happy she did it.

“When we bought it, I had no idea what to expect,” Ana said. “I love it a lot.”

They even saw the community in action when visiting the store.

“People could say Monroe is the great town but until you come here, meet the people, you will not understand,” Tim said. “Before we even took ownership we were in here and a lady fell. Customers out of the blue, that all knew each other, came over, started helping her, called her husband, took care of her car.”

Ana was impressed with how staff stepped in, especially the kids who work there.

“The kids that work for us came over with a chair and water for her,” Ana said. “I’m just amazed, people just take care of each other.”

The couple wants the community to get involved at the store, too. They have an idea for the future to get art students’ work up outside on the building.

“I want a board out front, a large board, for the art students to paint it. 2024, what is going on?” Tim said. “Each year the new art students can come and paint it on what is going on.”

For now they are just enjoying the challenge of owning a store and getting to know the people of Monroe.

“We’re excited,” Tim said.