HOMETOWN HEROES Arlan’s Market embraces neighborhood approach

Expands to areas where grocery stores are needed

by Mary Margaret Stewart / staff writer

Ames Arlan started sacking groceries at age 16, where he fell in love with the business. He knew for some time he wanted to own a grocery store. Today, he owns and operates several Arlan’s Market locations in Texas with his son, Nick, VP and general manager.

“He will take over for me someday,” Arlan said. “Hopefully not too soon, but we hope to keep the business in the family and going for years to come for future generations.”

Arlan’s will have been in business for 30 years come February.

In January 1991, Arlan purchased his first store, a location that was on the brink of shutting down. Shortly after buying it, the Arlan family moved to the same neighborhood where it was located, which worked well.

“We were able to have my wife involved…she handles a lot of stuff that have to do with insurance and things like that,” he said.

“My daughter worked for a while in high school, but she was like, ‘Dad, I think I want to be a school teacher,’ and I understand. But her husband, my son-in-law, he started four or five years ago as a store manager and management. And now, he’s our merchandiser for the company.

“My brother was working for us for a few years, and he just retired. My sister-in-law works at one of the stores.”

Nick Arlan was 10 years old when his dad bought the store, where he eventually began to hang out.

“It was the type of neighborhood I could ride my bike around – I could ride my bike to the store,” he said. “During the summers, I would help out in the bakery, as far as wrapping bread and breaking out the dough and the cookies for the next day – doing stuff like that.

“I became a sacker and worked my way up through that. Then, when I was about 17 or 18, I became an assistant manager in the Please see page 18