When Bill Mehlinger bought the Clarkston Thriftown in 1990, he would have described it as your typical American grocery store. The small, 10-aisle supermarket built in the 70s was well-stocked with things like Hamburger Helper, Jif Peanut Butter and Campbell’s soup.
Mehlinger had just come from a long career with the grocery chain Winn-Dixie. This was the kind of food he figured would sell.
But it didn’t.
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