The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill President/Owner
After fifty six years serving the Stronghurst community with their grocery needs, Jim and Char Fisher sold their Stronghurst grocery store this past week.
Fishers Food Center in Stronghurst has officially traded hands as the Fishers handed the keys to new owner Deepak Chandel of Williamsfield on Friday morning, July 11th. The store’s new name will be Stronghurst Food, Deepak said.
This is the sixth grocery store for Deepak’s large extended family he said.
“My Uncle Rakesh Puri was the first to come over in 2011 and the first to buy a store in Bushnell in 2021,” Deepak said, “Bushnell Market,” and has had good support from the community there.
"Another Uncle Pardeep Kumar bought a grocery store in Williamsfield where I and my wife and young daughter presently live until we find a home or a suitable apartment in Stronghurst.
There are three more family-owned stores in Illinois run by Deepak's cousins Harsh Puri and his sister located in Altermont, Newton, and Greenup – towns outside of Effingham.
Deepak is proud of his family and caring relatives. "We are a big family and we all like to work."
“We run our store with the same philosophy as my Uncle, he said. It is not only about making money, but we will give free food to people in need throughout the year.”
The Bushnell Market Facebook illustrates the caring nature for the community. They are seen regularly giving food through the ministerial alliance to needy, and to schools, and benefits, and during the holidays of the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas they give "food" to many families (exempt from alcohol, lottery, gaming or cigarettes etc.)
“We will be doing this at Stronghurst Foods," Deepak said.
“We will be keeping the good experienced staff of Bryan Hubbard (10 years) as manager, and Billie Smith (22 years) as head cashier.”
“We also have many plans for improvements: adding LED lighting, new coolers, and upgrading the paying system for credit cards. They also plan to improve the produce and deli section, and have alreadly added some gourmet items, while keeping the familiar brands and items people know and love.”
Deepak said the pizza and menu at the daily deli specials will remain, but he plans to add new items to it.
The focus is on upgrades, improvement offerings, giving to those in need and even on lowering some prices.
“We have already changed distributors which will help,” he said. “We are happy to be here and I hope the community will shop locally and support their hometown store and our efforts to serve their grocery needs.”
"My goal," Deepak Chandel said after taking over the Stronghurst grocery store this month, is to keep my staff happy, my customers happy, and to serve the Stronghurst community. We need your support, so we can do that, and so we can help those in need."
Stronghurst Food will be open every day of the year Monday through Saturday: 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Sunday: 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with shortened hours on Christmas.
Pictured at Stronghurst Food this past Friday is new owner (at right) Deepak Chandel with his wife Aarzoo and daughter Arpita and (at left) Deepak’s uncle and his family from Williamsfield: Pardeep Kumar, his wife Nanci Rani, their daughter Jasmine and two sons Aaron and Shiva.