Less than a month after the doors were locked at Hamlin Grocery, the iconic store at the corner of Jebavy Drive and Dewey Road in Hamlin Township has new owners.
John and Nancy Ball of Manistee are purchasing the store from West Shore bank and will call the former Hamlin Grocery store Lower Hamlin.
The couple purchased the store under the umbrella of their land and water management company and have plans for the business.
“I buy stuff that is in distress,” Ball said. “I turn it around and make it popular again.”
“There is an opportunity here,” he said.
Both John and Nancy know the recent history of Hamlin Grocery and what has taken place with former owner Vaughn Flewelling, who left the area without word to family, friends and store customers. He was located and found to be not in harm’s way. There were some bills looming, though, including a tax lien against the property.
“We really do care about what happened here,” Ball said. “We really do, but we also care about what we are doing.”
“Vaughn was truly loved by this community. We pray for him every day. I have never run into a better group of people. We really wish him and his family well.”
Welcome to the discussion.