LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – Imagine a quaint grocery store where the employees don’t change on a daily basis, where faces become familiar and smiles are given freely along with good service. The next time you’re in Lewisburg, walk through the doors at Cornerstone IGA and experience the difference between a big box store and a family-owned tradition.
Last year, the Cutlip family proudly celebrated two decades of ownership. But what they invested in nearly 21 years ago was not just a business, but a lifestyle.
“I bought the store on March 21, 2005,” says Phil Cutlip. “We went out on a limb, moved here from Webster Springs and purchased the business. This is home now, and we like living here very much,” he adds.
When asked what he believes sets Cornerstone IGA apart from other grocers, Cutlip did not hesitate.
“Right now, our meat department and produce department. It’s all about service. If you don’t have that, you don’t have anything,” he says. “I know we’re not the cheapest store in town, but we have service. We will try to get anything for anyone if there’s something they want.”
Growing up, Cutlip learned a lot about customer service from his grandfather and father, both of whom owned and operated businesses.
“My dad used to have a customer who needed a specific item for baking,” he recalls. “The warehouse we dealt with at the time didn’t carry it, so he’d drive to Kroger and bring it back to our store. He’d sell it for her for the exact price he paid for it.”
In a small town, customers notice when shelves are full and assistance is readily available.
“They always seem friendly and helpful,” says Cherie Blankenship. “They also tend to be well stocked, which is nice.”
Many customers return to the hometown store because they offer personal service that often gets overlooked in the retail world.
“I like a hands-on business,” Cutlip says. “I worked for my grandpa at a Southern States store when I was young and we worked hands-on with every customer, writing out bills by hand. We’d write up the order and load it for them. That’s how my granddad did business,” he remembers.
Speaking of writing out a customer bill the old-fashioned way, Cornerstone IGA didn’t forget how to run a business when the lights went out. In 2012, when the derecho darkened much of Greenbrier County on a hot summer evening, damaging winds and power outages prevented most stores from reopening.
“When we went back into the store, we knew we’d have a mess,” Cutlip recalls. “When the power’s out, the ice cream is always the first to go. We had no idea when everything was going to open up, so there were six or eight of us in the store just trying to clean up. While we were there, we had a few people come to the door needing an item and asking if we were open, so we’d get it for them,” he said.
“About 15 or 20 minutes later, our parking lot was full. So, we let them in, gave them a flashlight, pencil and paper and asked them write down the prices of the items as they shopped. When they got to the front, we’d add them up with a calculator,” he continued. “After that, we got a generator and now we don’t have to worry about the power being out. We’ll be open.”
Self-checkouts are very much in the ‘you either love them or hate them’ category, especially for consumers. When asked how he felt about self-checkouts, Cutlip instantly thought of his customers.
“I don’t like self-checkouts because my customers don’t like that type of business,” he admits. “They enjoy talking to a cashier, and in some cases, it’s the only people they get to talk to. This is especially true with older customers who don’t get out much.”
Speaking of what customers like, many return for the delicious offerings of their deli and baked goods.
“They make the best cinnamon and sugar donuts, but you have to get there early,” says Debra Morgan Snedegar. For the cookie connoisseur, Jessie Boone highly recommends IGA’s annual holiday sale. “Their Christmas cookie sale is the BEST,” she says.
Cornerstone IGA is a family-owned, locally operated grocery store. Their focus is on home, and community with West Virginia made products, fresh produce, fresh-cut meats and a full-service deli. For all who have supported him, his family and their business, Cutlip offers a heartfelt thanks.
“Thank you very much,” he says with gratitude. And with a chuckle, he added, “Thank you for buying shoes for my babies.”
Cornerstone IGA is located at 9779 Seneca Trail South in Lewisburg. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Services offered include curbside pickup and in-store pickup.
For more information, call 304-645-3133 or visit Facebook.com/
*All photos courtesy Cornerstone IGA.
