Gilligans Working To Expand Store
After purchasing the grocery store in Culbertson last fall, owners John and Kathy Gilligan are now excited to announce an expansion at Heritage Grocery.
Work to remodel the building next to Heritage Grocery is starting this week. During past years, that location has housed a computer shop, a studio gallery and woodworking projects. John Gilligan explained the expansion will allow for improvements at the grocery store including an area where customers can visit while enjoying doughnuts, coffee and soft drinks near the front of the current store.
“It will also allow us to get the kitchen bigger,” Gilligan said. In addition, the other building will provide office and storage space. The plan is to improve the upstairs as it will remain an apartment.
The Gilligans own 15 businesses including The Welcome Stops in Bainville and Plentywood. When they heard that Cassandra and Eric Bergum were interested in selling the popular Culbertson store, they expressed their interest.
“I wanted to keep it local,” John explained. “It fits into the model we have, and I wanted to keep it here.”
Although they are owners of stores in Arizona that their sons manage, the Gilligans call eastern Montana home. John is a member of the Bainville Town Council. Their businesses are generous when it comes to donating to 4-H, schools’ post prom events, BPA and other activities.
“You aren’t going to beat the people here,” John said.
Those special people include the employees at the store. They say manager Lorie Smith is doing an extraordinary job. Patty Manning has been employed at the store for almost 30 years. Baker Roberta Waters and cook Martha Rudolph have each been there for more than decade.
“The success of the store is the employees,” John said. “We have great help. That’s the backbone of this grocery store.”
The business keeps adding items including beef and ice cream from Montana.
“I want to make sure that if you need something, you don’t need to go to Wal-mart,” John said. “The community and employees are the two most important things to us. We want to keep the money in the community.”
