August brought a major
change to our little business community. The ownership of Norris Court Grocery
changed. We said good-bye to Kathy Newport, longtime neighborhood resident and
owner of our neighborhood grocery store on the corner of E. Johnson and
Paterson streets. Kathy was ready for a change, and we wish her well as she
goes off to to a new life as a school teacher.
The new owners are
Abdullah Akhun and Isa Khan. Abdullah was persuaded to make a career change by
his partner Isa who already had a store in Madison. Abdullah comes to Madison
after twenty-one years in Chicago. He spent some time in New York before that
and before New York, he worked his way through almost every country in western
Europe. He is joined in Madison by his wife and their son and he will be helped
in the store by his father-in-law, who has many years of experience in
business.
The store will remain a
friendly family run operation with a neighborhood focus. Abdullah encourages
customers to make suggestions for products they would like to see in the store.
He also plans to install a ATM machine which will be a very welcome addition.
The store will have a new name, “Madison Food Mart” and will be
open from 8 am until 11 pm, Monday through Saturday and 8 am until 9 pm on
Sunday.
Stop in and say hello.
-Teena
Browder