In 1966, Marsh Supermarkets caused a stir across the Midwest by venturing into the rapidly expanding convenience store market. By the time it was acquired by a private equity firm four decades later, Marsh owned 154 Village Pantries spanning across Indiana and Ohio! Some of the original locations have been repurposed, and I take a photo when I find one.
Muncie’s seventh Village Pantry -the chain’s nineteenth, overall1– stands at 3715 East Jackson Street. Designed by architect George Cox2, the 2,500-square-foot store cost $42,000 to build, employed seven people, and stocked 3,000 items including a limited grocery line3.
Marsh’s nineteenth Village Pantry closed around 2008. It’s served as a variety of convenience stores since then, including Hoosier Pete4 and Phillips 66. Today, it’s a BP-branded operation called Valu Mart Express.
Sources Cited
1 New Village Pantry Store (1970, August 6). The Muncie Evening Press. p. 29.
2 Marsh to Build in Southeast Muncie (1966, October 5). The Muncie Evening Press. p. 23.
3 Marsh Plans New Division (1966, September 19). The Muncie Evening Press. p. 14.
4 Roysdon, K. (2009, January 23). From old comes new. The Muncie Star Press. p. 21.
