& More Celebrating the Holiday Season in Style with
Food
Fligner's Market by Kelly Boyer-Sagert
photographs by Jason Shaffer
Fligner’s was founded in 1924 as a family-owned and operated store, and it remains in the family to this day. And, as it approaches its 100th anniversary, we thought we’d reach out to a fourth-generation family member who is familiar to anyone who shops there: Ben Fligner.
If you’re seeking the country’s longest-running full-service meat market, how far would you be willing to travel? One hundred miles? Two hundred? What if you found out that prices at this store are often 60 percent cheaper than at big box chain stores and that the staff provides the personalized service of yesteryear with all the benefits of today? What if, for example, the store used computerized technology to ring up your purchases quickly, and then they’d personally carry your groceries to your car—pushing the cart and then placing the items carefully in your vehicle? How long would you travel then? Five hundred miles? A thousand? l a c ol ni a r ol e h t @ | m o c .l a c ol ni a r ol
Well, if you live in or around Lorain, Ohio, here’s the good news. You’ll only need to go to 1854 Broadway (and, for the writer of this article, that’s only 1.5 miles away). Conveniently located, the store offers plenty of free parking. What we’re talking about, of course, is Fligner’s Market.
Lorain Local Magazine | page 26
“We’re really looking forward to serving our longterm and new customers during this holiday season,” Ben shares. “Even during tough times, our great employees offer wonderful customer service to make people’s holidays complete.” Started by Ben’s great-grandfather, Harry Fligner—a Polish immigrant—and Morris Fligner, Ben’s grandfather, the two men named their store the Lorain Cut-Rate Fruit Company. That catchy slogan and the personalized service offered by Harry and Morris caught the attention of Lorainites, and, in 1933, the men changed the store’s name to Fligner’s as they expanded beyond simply offering delicious fruit. Through savvy management, the store survived the challenging years of the Great Depression. Kel Fligner began working at the store in 1949, and he earned a business degree from Baldwin-Wallace University. Although Kel would have preferred to put all his attention on the grocery store from the get-go, his parents knew the value that an education in business could bring to the store—and they were correct. Kel then bought out his father and grandfather in 1963.
