New Fairfax Grocery supported by Nation

NEWS RELEASE

NEW FAIRFAX GROCERY SUPPORTED BY NATION

The Grayhorse and Fairfax community gets a new and improved grocery store

By ON Communications

PAWHUSKA, Okla. (March 24, 2015)—Fresh healthy foods are available again in the small town of Fairfax, Okla. The rural community is located on the Osage Nation Reservation and includes the smaller Osage community of Grayhorse or Pah.Soo.Lee. Since 2011 residents, including several Osage Nation tribal members, have had to travel more than thirty minutes to purchase fresh healthy foods. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the new store, Fairfax Venture Foods, on Tuesday, March 24. Doors will open for business on Wednesday, March 25.

“I’m excited that we’re going to have fresh foods and produce and we can eat healthier,” said Carol Conner, a Fairfax resident who attended the ribbon cutting with her husband Joe. She said for several years members of the community had to purchase most of their food at a general store that stocks mostly processed and canned foods. She added, “…when my family from out-of-town comes to see me they always ask me if I need anything from the store.”

Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear and Assistant Principal Chief Raymond Red Corn took part in the ribbon cutting with store owner Lane Moore, store employees and residents.

“Today is a beautiful day and we are in a great location for a great occasion,” said Standing Bear. “The [Fairfax] community has needed this store for several years. When Assistant Chief Red Corn and I were elected we picked up from where the community members were working and we just supported their efforts.”

Standing Bear and Red Corn were elected in June 2014 and took office in July 2014 and the Nation signed the building lease for Fairfax Venture Foods on December 23, 2014. Just three months later the store will open for business.

“[The store] was way up on our priority list because food is basic to human survival,” said Standing Bear about the new administration focusing on opening the store for the Grayhorse and Fairfax community.

The store is owned by ALLS Grocery Inc. and the Osage Nation provided start-up resources such as shelving, energy efficient appliances, and remodeling, according to Red Corn. Appropriations for the store were supported by Osage Nation Congress during special session in November 2014. ONCA 15-05 appropriated $300,000 to invest in the store.

Red Corn worked with residents including George Pease, Osage tribal member, to identify a qualified grocer for the community. “We needed a manger with plenty of small town grocery experience,” said Red Corn.

Moore, owner of ALLS Grocery Inc., also owns four other small town stores, two in Colorado and two more in Oklahoma. The Fairfax store is their fifth store. Moore said there is a way to make money in rural America and that the contrary is a misconception.

“[My family] grew up in small towns…you can’t run [small town grocery stores] like a big city business, the customer service is different the inventory is handled a little different but if you do it right you can make a profit,” Moore said.

ALLS is a family owned business and Moore’s son Logan Moore is the new general manager at Fairfax Venture Foods.

“We’re really looking forward to becoming part of the Fairfax community,” said Logan, “Fairfax needs a grocery store, it’s a town of 1,300 people, a grocery store is the heart of a town…without a grocery store all your business and all your tax dollars go somewhere else, if the tax dollars stay here that helps the schools and that helps everybody.”

The Chief and Assistant Chief hope to see the store become a valuable resource to Osage people. “We have to make sure the Osage Nation supports this store economically. That means we encourage everyone in the area to consider this store for their shopping needs particularly those who have large family dinners and ceremonial dinners. We are working with our Burial Assistance Program to have a good relationship with Lane Moore so when those benefits are extended to families they have a quick response time to get their food purchased for funeral dinners,” said Standing Bear.

Looking at all the fresh produce and smiling people Red Corn said he felt good about the new grocery store serving the Grayhorse and Fairfax community. Red Corn added, “What made this work was the right combination of private investment, tribal investment and community support.”

To shop at Fairfax Venture Foods go to 201 North Main Street, Fairfax, Okla. 74637 or call 918-642-1390 for more information. Fairfax Venture Foods also has a Facebook page with updates.

For Media Inquiries: Osage Nation Communications 918-287-5599