East Dublin grocery store gets new owners

East Dublin’s struggling Food World grocery store is getting new life under new ownership as a B&T’s Food Fresh Market.

The store was closed Wednesday as crews scrambled to clean, restock and re-price items – in most cases at significant savings – ahead of its reopening Thursday at 7 a.m.

“We’re very high on freshness and quality, and items that are original to Georgia,” B&T’s Food Fresh Chief Operating Officer Mark Mulkey said at the store. “We’ll have those national brand items, but we like to focus on local.”

Headquartered in Sylvania, B&T’s recently purchased seven Food World stores in Georgia, including four in the midstate, two in Statesboro and another in Dawson. It already operated a dozen stores, including locations in Rentz, Mt. Vernon and Gordon.

The East Dublin store’s 30-plus employees, with the exception of a few who left over uncertainty about the store’s future, will keep their jobs, said Mulkey. 

“We think that’s important, every time we acquire a local store. The continuity is important. They live and work here.”

The store also will retain some of its most popular features, such as its Pick 5 for $25 meat promotion and its deli area.

“We’re here to enhance what they were doing well, like their deli section,” said Mulkey. “They’ve built a really good reputation for their fried chicken.

“We’re big on things that have been successful. We’ll also talk to the community, to find out what they want, so we can meet their needs. Being an independent grocer gives us that flexibility so we can cater to our customers. What sells here might not sell in Vidalia or Athens. Each community has its own niche.”

Childhood friends and classmates-turned-business partners John Triplett, who followed his father into the grocery business, and Clark Brown founded B&T’s in 2016, and have focused on customer service, fresh-cut meats and quality produce.

According to the company website, the two do everything from “lobbying in Washington, D.C., to mopping floors.” One even has a license in refrigeration, which alone saves the stores money.

“It’ll be a whole new shopping experience. We’re not cookie-cutter. We can do things the big chain can’t do,” said Mulkey.

On Wednesday, a couple walked past the “closed” sign and to the entrance, carrying a six-pack of Coke. Staffers pried open the normally automatic doors and were told the drinks had been purchased at the store but were flat.

“Swap them,” Triplett’s father, William, who was in town helping with the transition, said without hesitation.

Mulkey described B&T’s Food Fresh as a “faith-based, family-owned business.”

“We bring those values with us to our stores and our communities. We look forward to partnering with the local schools, local civic organizations and local food banks. Feeding the community … at the end of the day, that’s what we’re here to do. We really take pride in being the hometown grocer.”

The store, which plans to buy in-season produce from local growers, will eventually put in its own decor package. It will hold a grand opening/customer celebration sale in mid- to late April and a 10-year anniversary promotion in July.

East Dublin Mayor George Gornto said the city needs a grocery store.

“We’re glad that they stepped in and kept the store open, restocked it, cleaned it up,” said Gornto. “It’s an asset to East Dublin.”