Carrie and Zach McCaw never had to deal with seller’s remorse. After an agreement to sell their independent convenience/grocery store was scuttled when the potential buyer backed out, the couple took Shawnee Grocery, Stout, Ohio, off the market and doubled down on operating it.
Unlike retailers who exit businesses due to financial challenges or retirement, the McCaw duo was eager to launch a new life chapter. “At first, we were disappointed, but maybe the deal falling through was a sign,” said Zach McCaw. “We’re now not actively looking to sell—only if someone makes us an offer we can’t refuse.”
The upside of retaining the 1,400-square-foot store is at least fourfold: annual sales growth hovers in the 10% to 15% range. Mix in ultra-loyal customers, low to no competition, and a dependable work staff and the McCaw’s enjoy operational tailwinds. In addition, the couple have three children—the oldest being 10 years old—who have established a curiosity about the store.
“My parents had owned the store dating to 1993,” said Carrie McCaw, who assumed ownership in 2007 after her parent retired. “As a young girl, I loved to fiddle around with the POS register, greet customers. Essentially, I grew up in this business—it’s in my blood. Our seven-year-old has the same type of interest.”
Renewed, Refocused Retailers
The overall success of Shawnee Grocery—its name derived from the Shawnee Native American tribe that settled in Ohio—helps soften the blow of a deal gone sour, which occurred in earlier 2023. Now, the only “for sale” sign that the McCaw’s are eager to display are for their many in-store offers.
Located near the Kentucky border east of Cincinnati and south of Portsmouth, Ohio, the rural store sells everything from deli meats and novelty confection to firewood and plumbing supplies.
Renowned for foodservice, Shawnee Grocery offers deli sandwiches with assorted meats and six different types of cheeses. It also offers hot food, soups and chilis that can be consumed on-premise. They are positioned in a grab-and-go warmer. Zach McCaw does all cooking on site (the couple lives above the store) and they are eternally bent on scaring up new, unique menu items.
“In this industry, I’ve found that people always seek something new and different,” said Carrie McCaw.
Unbranded fuel is available from a single multi-pump dispenser, with gas throughput amounting to a modest 8,000 gallons per month. Offering no in-pump card readers, customers have to enter to pay for fuel. The multi-pump dispenser recently was retrofitted with a new Gilbarco digital pump upgrade as the legacy dispenser had been analogue.
Shawnee Grocery also sells a robust supply of propane and kerosene, relying on Weaver’s Gas and Oil, West Portsmouth, Ohio, for its weekly or biweekly drop.
Low Competition, Ongoing Investments
One key to success: “We don’t have any competitive threats for about 20 miles,” said Zach McCaw. “There are no dollar stores, gas station or any other type of retail around us. Because we’re so remote, we might have a finite number of customers, but people here rely on us for everything—we feel needed, and it gives us an extra purpose.”
The McCaw’s are locally committed, with Walnut Creek, a northern Ohio company, supplying local milk and other food supplies. The company sells a ton of firewood, which is supplied by the company Zach McCaw had long owned but recently sold—the store remains a valued firewood customer.
“We grew up self-employed entrepreneurs, and make a point to support other small business,” said Zach McCaw. Its regional supplier is Topicz Wholesale, Cincinnati.
The work staff, said Carrie McCaw, is hard-working and reliable, with three either full- or part-time employees. “The best aspect of owning the store is hiring someone for their first job and watching them turn into great workers—and then leaving to succeed on their own.”
Scouting Experience
Last October, the couple returned from the National Association of Convenience Stores annual trade show and conference pleased they make the trek to Atlanta. The primary reason: scout for a new point-of-sale (POS) operating system to replace its Intuit QuickBooks system that was being phased down or out, said Zach McCaw.
“We’ve narrowed it down to two to three systems. New POS will allow us to better streamline operations and provide more dynamic scan data, and better price look-up capabilities,” he said.
“We also need a POS system that will provide us better remote access to daily transactions and view daily reports when we travel,” said Carrie McCaw. “We might not be selling Shawnee Grocery, but we still want to travel—and have the best of both worlds.”
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