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    Huffman’s Market Adapts to Change After Liquor License Transfer

    November will mark family grocer Huffman’s Market’s 29th year in business. November also marks the store’s first year since 2004 operating without it’s defining state liquor license.

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    In an interesting contract this June, Huffman’s transferred their long-standing liquor license to Kroger for the tune of $3 million, a shelf, and a case of Miller Lite. Liquor licenses technically can’t be bought or sold, but as Huffman’s proves, there are creative ways to snake around that ruling.

    The Tremont Center grocer was the first Ohio state liquor agency to sell liquor on Sundays, over a decade ago on April 19, 2004. Quippy owner Tim Huffman founded the market back in 1984 as a family-run affair, which it still remains.

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    At variance with the Giant Eagle Market District and soon-to-be-constructed Kroger in Kingsdale Shopping Center, Huffman’s emphasis on Ohio-made products, personable service, and community-geared events offers a unique change of pace from your typical milk-and-eggs run — the little things are what Huffman’s does unquestionably better than big-name grocers. A working model train loops around the store perimeter, languidly chugging past customers. Season Clippers tickets are given out weekly. Hot dogs and popsicles are passed out every Fourth of July. A soft-serve ice cream machine and cookie jar provide goodies for kids, and come the holidays, Santa Claus arrives outside of the store, next to makeshift pens filled with live reindeer.

    The shelves of the former liquor aisle now sit empty, but not for long. The store will soon be expanding their beer and wine departments, especially with more local craft beers. A large new craft beer fridge stocked with Ohio-made brews has already proved its popularity.

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    “It’s flying out of here. Even in my wildest imagination, I didn’t think it would take off that quick,” said Huffman. “We’re trying to get the craft beers, Ohio beers, all the trendy beers.”

    Huffman also mentioned the possible addition of more prepared foods – sandwiches, foods on the go, deli selections. They’re still finalizing what will be changed, waiting on customer feedback to determine what happens.

    “We just have to keep doing things differently, and give people what they want,” said Huffman.

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    The store itself will be reformatted, but no physical expansion is planned. The meat department, sourced entirely from Ohio, will expand into more of the existing store. Huffman’s buys a large portion of their premium meat from various state fairs, including a large selection of lamb

    “I think we’ll be fine. We can react quicker than the chain stores can – we’re usually ahead of the game with them, but they have a lot of stuff that we can’t do,” said Huffman. “We’re not sure what our next move is, but depending on space, we’ll rearrange it, figure out what’s next, and get it in here. We just have to use what space we have wisely.”

    For more information, visit www.huffmansmarket.com.

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    Rebecca Wagner
    Rebecca Wagnerhttps://columbusunderground.com
    Rebecca Wagner is a former staff writer at Columbus Underground who reported on local food and restaurant news. She's a graduate of Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
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