Scott Miller’s family has had deep roots in Indianola for almost an entire century.
His great-grandfather, Morris Lewis Sr., founded Lewis Grocer Company in the 1920s.
After graduating from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania in 1932, Morris Lewis Jr. returned to Mississippi to work for his father's company as a salesman.
In 1934, the Lewis Grocer Company took over the Gilmer Grocery Company warehouse in Indianola.
Morris Lewis Jr. moved to Indianola with his wife to manage "the new business" here.
This marked the beginning of a development that would lead to it becoming Mississippi's largest, and one of the nation's major, grocery distribution systems. His brother, Celian, joined him in Indianola shortly thereafter.
This move was part of the company's strategy to expand into the Delta region, serving an agrarian clientele with a wide range of goods, including agricultural supplies and non-perishable food staples.
Indianola became a central hub for the Lewis Grocer Company's operations, with the company establishing a flour-blending plant here in 1937 and later opening a significant new warehouse in 1957. During World War II, Morris Lewis Sr. moved to Indianola to oversee the business while his sons, Morris Jr. and Celian, served in the army. Morris Lewis Jr. returned to Indianola after his military service in 1946.
The company owned and franchised a group of stores under the Sunflower Food Store brand name.
“We’ve had really strong family ties there,” Miller, who now resides in Texas, told The Enterprise-Tocsin in an interview this week.
The distribution and grocery store names have changed over the decades, but the legacy lives on, and Miller is hoping that will be the case for years to come as the former Shoppers Value Food Store has officially rebranded to Miller Family Market.
Miller Family Market will have its soft opening today, following a three-day closure earlier this week, with a much bigger event set to go on all day on Saturday, which will include bounce houses for kids, giveaways and a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Not much will change about the location at 903 U.S. 82, as much of the store’s offerings and friendly staff are the same, but Miller said that the new brand is more about strengthening that family atmosphere that has existed for decades.
“When you walk into our store, if you’re a regular customer, we’re going to know who you are, and it’s like you’re coming home to shop,” Miller said.
One big change that has come as part of this rebranding is a new rewards program that Miller said will allow customers to accumulate points for discounts.
“It’s really a very interesting program, and it’s resonating across the country,” he said.
Gone with the Shoppers brand is the 10% above cost pricing, something Miller said works in other areas of the country but has been a frustration with customers in the Delta region since it was adopted about a decade ago.
Miller Family Market will continue to serve hot breakfast and lunch meals, as well as providing fresh cut meat on a daily basis, seafood, produce, dairy and other items, Miller said.
Most important to Miller, the same friendly staff that has been serving Indianola for years will be smiling when customers walk through the door today.
Names change, but family is family.
