Goodbye Diemer

Houchens buys longtime market

By Raed Battah, rbattah@bgdailynews.com — 270-783-3246

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Houchens Industries Inc. has bought grocery and fuel operations at the Jimmy Diemer Plano Road Super Market.

It is the latest deal for the local chain, which has evolved from one grocery store to one of the largest privately owned companies in the country.

At 63, Jimmy Diemer is now moving on. As Diemer and Stephen Reed of Houchens finalized paperwork officially turning over operations of Diemers grocery store, both new and longtime customers quietly traipsed the aisles or passed through the friendly checkout lanes just as they always have.

The Diemer name eventually will come down and a new Houchens sign will be erected. Diemer will move his barbecue and meat products across the parking lot into what is now the office for his storage rental business. He will sell bulk amounts of meat under the name Jimmy Ds.

Mid-Tuesday afternoon, customers were scanning aisles for goods, some with lists, others sure of exactly what they needed.

Its Delicious reads a handwritten, hand-colored sign over an open cooler stocked with Jimmy Diemers homemade potato salad, baked beans, biscuits and country ham, and his locally renowned pulled pork barbecue. The classically prepared Southern-style meats and sides, along with the old-fashioned conveniences, have brought the humble grocer years of success.

Youll only find it at Jimmy Diemers, said Trudy Harden of Bowling Green, pulling from her shopping bag a jar of Spring Valley Farms Tennessee Mountain Brands honey.

And I always come here for my country ham, she added. And of course, you have to pick up an ice-cream cone on the way to the post office.

Harden admitted that the market was unique because of Diemer.

He gives you that special service, she paused. I guess the kind you used to get at the old country store.

Gerald Holder of Alvaton also knows Diemer personally and echoed praise of Diemers famous barbecue.

Its good food. Oh yeah. Ive got a bunch at home right now in the freezer, he said.

Holder has been a Diemers customer most of his life.

When I was a kid, we used to shop at the store on Adams Street.

The Adams Street store is now run by Diemers brother, Joe, who took over the business after running it with their father, Thomas L. Diemer. At the time, Jimmy Diemer worked at that store as well.

Hes a good businessman, Holder said. Hes always in here working. In fact, Ive never been in here when he wasnt working or doing something.

Holder also shops at Houchens and said the deal is good news because Houchens does not have a store in the area.

Beth Byrd, also of Alvaton, is sad that Diemer will no longer be a visible presence at the store.

It will be a tremendous loss, she said. Ive known Mr. Diemer my whole life. Hes the face weve seen for 30 years. The staff is just like family. They know your name, they know your childrens name.

Back in the meat section, a man peered up and down a hanging wall lined with hooks.

Im looking for the country hams, Lendon Lewis called out to a store employee.

Lewis, of Bowling Green, was buying country hams that he intended to pack up to Michigan for his brother.

I bought one here a couple months ago, Lewis said. I took it up to Michigan and everybody praised how wonderful it was. It was beautiful. Thats why Im here, to get two of em to take up there.

A voice from behind a wall separating the meat cooler from a back cutting and prep station, called out: Were all out.

Lewis sighed.

All out. Ahhh naahhh, he said.

Just then a timely Jimmy Diemer walked in through a rear entrance to the store and tended directly to Lewis.

Now Ive got some sliced ham. Its vacuum sealed, its delicious and its the way you want to go Im tellin ya, he said and proceeded to fill four boxes with sliced ham equaling the amount Lewis desired. Nursing a dislocated arm, the raspy voiced Diemer slung a pair of the heavy boxes filled with vacuum wrapped country ham slices into Lewiss shopping cart.

Now dont let em give me too bad a name up there now, Diemer said to Lewis.

Lewis smiled, gave thanks and headed toward the checkout. It was as though Diemer heard Lewiss praise just moments before he arrived.

Hes a beautiful man, Lewis said before Diemer appeared. Every time Im in here, I speak to him and hes just beautiful.

Perhaps Lewis represented exactly the kind of customer Diemer recalled, as he intercepted a tear and his voice choked, when asked what he would miss the most from his days as a community grocer.

I feel like the luckiest man alive to have had the opportunity to meet and serve so many wonderful people, he said. You have to be a people person, and I love people.

Diemer has a long history of friendly competition and cooperation with Houchens.

Irvin Houchens was a bit of an idol of mine growing up, Diemer recalled. My father would feel good about this. Im sure he and Irvin are up there in heaven right now shaking hands and enjoying the deal.

Diemer said Houchens Industries made him a sound offer. Diemer will retain ownership of the property, while turning over all functions of the store and its related assets to Houchens.

They were very fair from the beginning, he said. They addressed all our areas of concern. Were talking about a company that is strong financially, so I have no doubt they can honor all the agreements.

Diemer plans to take a bit of a vacation before focusing on his barbecue business and other ambitions.

A lot of people will be sad to see him go, said employee Andrea Stoneburg of Bowling Green. But they all say this is a well-deserved break.

Reed, an old friend of Diemers and one-time grocer himself, said Houchens was honored to be adding Diemers legacy to their operations.

Were acquiring a local tradition in his operations, Reed said. He has been a well-known institution over many generations with much success and we feel that is part of the value of this deal.

Reed said the takeover will involve some remodeling and an expansion of some product lines. Houchens is an employee stock ownership program employer, which means employees who stay on with Houchens can own stock in the company. Houchens also owns construction, insurance and recycling businesses and a cigarette maker, in addition to numerous grocery stores and other businesses.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700