At the core of any thriving rural community is an unflappable sense of service among its people. This spring, as COVID-19 emerged and uncertainty crept into our daily lives, Jessica Kaiser, manager of Wausa’s family-owned Main Street Grocery, immediately turned her attention to her employees and customers.
“This whole thing is really unprecedented, and at first, it was a shocking and overwhelming,” Kaiser said. “My first priority was keeping our customers and employees safe.”
For Kaiser, this meant providing facemasks and gloves to employees as soon as possible and implementing physical distancing guidelines for in-store customers. Employees took on the task of thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the store multiple times a day.
To maintain consistent service to customers, the store ramped up home deliveries and began offering curbside pick-up. Daily lunch specials have also continued as usual. Kaiser said deliveries and curbside have slowed recently but are available for anyone who would like them.
“The motivation we have always had at the store is to serve the customers; I want to give them what they want,” Kaiser said. “I want to be a full-service grocery store.”
Kaiser said the store has started to see the effect of national supply chain interruptions as a result of the pandemic, which has led to a shortage of certain items.
“It’s frustrating because there is nothing we can do about it,” she said. “We are taking it day-by-day and doing the best we can to make sure customers have what they need.”
Kaiser said she appreciates how supportive the community has been throughout the pandemic. She noted that this mutual support and patronage is a critical component of success.
“It is so important to support each other, and there is so much that goes into making sure we have a thriving community,” she said.
Kaiser credits the hard work of her employees, which includes her two daughters and several students from Wausa High School, in providing quality service.
“I really want to thank the employees,” she said. “They have really stepped up to the plate.”
Kaiser was quick to thank the customers who shop at Main Street Grocery.
“Without the customers,” she said, “we would not be here.”
Main Street Grocery is open Monday-Saturday, 7:30 am-7 pm. To place a lunch order or request delivery services, call the store at (402) 586-2224.