The Kohls Market in Ottawa will become a Community Markets store, after its sale to Fresh Encounter.
David Trinko | The Lima News
OTTAWA — A family-owned grocery store is changing ownership. Fresh Encounter, Inc. purchased Kohls Market in Ottawa, rebranding it to Community Markets.
Kohls Market, owned by second-generation operators Mark and Dennis, has been in business for more than 50 years. The family decided to close its Columbus Grove store in April 2014.
Fresh Encounter Inc. VP of Marketing, Julie Needler, said the new owners were looking forward to serving the community of Ottawa.
“We are proud that this grocery will continue to serve the Ottawa community with a family-owned and operated business, retaining the long-standing tradition of quality meat, local products and excellent service by a tenured staff,” she said in a press release.
Needler highlighted the history and tradition of what Kohls Market meant to the community.
“Mark and Dennis and their team have a strong reputation in the Ottawa community, characterized by faithful service to their customers and a commitment to their associates,” she said.
Fresh Encounter, Inc. is a supermarket management company owned by siblings Michael Needler, Jr. and Julie Needler Anderson. The family-owned company currently manages 48 retail stores, with the Ottawa location being one of 14 Community Markets locations across Ohio and eastern Indiana. Other nearby locations include Ada, Bluffton, Cridersville, Lakeview and Wapakoneta.
Fresh Encounters also owns Chief, with locations in Celina, Coldwater, Delphos and Van Wert and two stores in Lima. It also owns Save a Lot, which has two locations Lima as well as stores in Kenton and Van Wert.
Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351
