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 More
than 65 years ago, Clyde Martin leased a meat shop in downtown
Effingham. The shop was no more than 500 square feet. The year
was 1938.
What’s so special about this small meat shop?
Nothing more than the beginning of one of the finest, most efficient,
consumer-conscious supermarkets in East-Central Illinois, Martin’s
IGA Plus.
In the mid 1940s, Clyde expanded his enterprise after purchasing
property on the corner of Jefferson and Merchant Streets. He
eventually bought a locker plant six miles south of Effingham
and added groceries.
Business boomed throughout the decade, especially during WWII,
as Clyde took advantage of the bustling railroad industry. With
Effingham’s central location, the rail system was readily
available allowing for easy transportation of incoming goods.
As a result, he was fortunate to offer groceries that other
grocers could not easily access.
With an eye for customer satisfaction, complemented by hard
work, long hours, and extreme determination, his business soared.
In the 1950s, expansion was necessary again which led to another
facility to house the grocery merchandise. Clyde purchased ground
on the same block for this new facility. He also, at this time,
joined the Independent Grocers Alliance.
What had initially begun, as a relatively small meat shop, became
a supermarket known as Martin’s IGA. At one time, the
business was known as the World’s Largest Volume IGA.
As business grew, so did the variety of products and services
of this local grocery store including a coffee shop offering
pies, soups, sandwiches and drinks.
Along with the 70s came a newer, more attractive facility. This
same building still stands as the core of Martin’s IGA
Plus.
Today, the store is operated by Clyde’s son, Newlin, who
bought the business in 1988. Newlin compliments his employees
as being the “Best of the Best.” Like his father,
Newlin is constantly scrutinizing and re-evaluating how to best
meet the demands of all consumers within the area. He expanded
the store to its current size of 54,000 square foot and services
have grown to include a Pharmacy, catering services, a restaurant,
deli, meat shoppe, full-service florals, a bakery, a bank and
an express exit.
The restaurant has expanded from its original 35-seat capacity
in 1978 to include a full-fledge 165-seat cafeteria called the
Iron Horse. Newlin named the restaurant, Iron Horse, in honor
of his grandfather, E.E. Martin, who worked on the railroad.
With customer service at the forefront, Martin’s IGA has
gained loyalty from area customers and in turn has given back
to the community regularly by participating in and donating
to local community groups and causes. That emphasis remains
in tact today.
Quality customer service as well as a degree of diligence in
providing the best products and services available is what has
led to the success of Martin’s IGA Plus.
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