On Tuesday, April 1, 2014, Troy Bulk Barn & Deli came under new management, and this is no April Fool’s joke. Until now, the local eatery and bulk foods provider had been owned and operated by its founding proprietor.  Debbie Charr, a businesswoman from the area, had been interested in investing in a Troy business for a while and found Troy Bulk Barn & Deli on Craigslist last fall. “After some initial conversations and information-gathering via email, serious research and negotiating began in late February…the previous owner was looking to slow down and focus on his primary store and his family,” Charr said.

Undergoing the process of acquiring the Troy Bulk Barn & Deli was not too overwhelming according to Charr. “It was rather quick.  We ran into a few snags along the way, but overall it was the fastest business transaction of which I have ever been a part,” Charr said.

Charr’s goal as the new owner of Troy Bulk Barn & Deli is to maintain the vision of the previous owner. “I have had a long and lucrative professional career in corporate business and sales management and have owned or been a partner in several small businesses, some of which have been in the food service arena,” Charr said, “I have however, experienced highs and lows throughout my personal life which make me appreciate the philosophy from which this business was born. I take nothing for granted in my life and because of some of my own experiences, feel blessed to be able to continue the vision of the previous owners.”  The original dream behind the Troy Bulk Barn was to meet the needs of local families as they stretch their income by buying staple food items in bulk. The idea was to make sure Ohio farm products and healthier food items (such as nitrate free meats, cage-free eggs, and non GMO dairy products) were also supported in the process. In addition, Troy Bulk Barn is now increasingly catering to gluten-free and paleo diets. Their menu is a mouth-watering list of possibilities from hand-wrapped burritos to ice cream.

Charr intends to be sticking around Troy for the long-haul and is making plans to participate in community life as a business owner.  She’s already looking at the possibility of catering to businesses on the square and staying open late whenever anything exciting is happening downtown. In keeping with the vision of the past owners, her desire is for people to “feel like this is their hometown corner market.”  

According to Charr, “This isn't my first time at bat, but hopefully it will be my last. I hope for a very long and successful run in our beautiful town and appreciate the support I have received thus far from my friends and the community at large.”