Meet the Owners

Mark and Sharla Lorenz met in Kansas during the summer of 1985 and were united in marriage in 1988. They have been blessed with five amazing children plus thirteen wonderful grandchildren to love and spoil (with one more on the way). Mark & Sharla have had the honor of celebrating over thirty-seven years of life together, keeping Christ at the center.

They began their life together in northern Ohio and had their first three children there; 2 sons and a daughter. In 1997, they moved the family to Quinter, Kansas (Sharla’s hometown). During their time there, Mark began to entertain the idea of starting a bulk food business. He also attended college to become a radiologic technician, and after graduating in 2003, they moved back to Indiana, close to where Mark had grown up. While Sharla kept busy as a homemaker and homeschooling mom, two more children soon joined the family: another son and another daughter.

Before they knew it, the two oldest sons had left home and gotten married. The oldest daughter had also graduated from high school and was engaged to be married when tragedy struck their close-knit family in a way they never could have imagined. As a result of an auto accident, their youngest daughter was ushered into the presence of her Maker. After a couple of years, it was becoming evident that their youngest son had grown weary of being homeschooled alone, so as he entered high school, Mark & Sharla enrolled him in the local private Christian school.

All of a sudden, Sharla had more time on her hands and began volunteering at Birthright in Kokomo a day a week, which she found very fulfilling. After a couple more years, she inquired about a part-time job at Miller’s Variety Store just a few miles from their home. She hadn’t been employed there very long when she found out the owners wanted to sell the business. When Sharla shared that with Mark, his mind started kicking into high gear again.

They hope this new venture will allow Mark to leave the medical field and that they, together with their amazing employees, can serve the community in a Christ-like manner worthy of His calling! May God richly bless all who make an effort to shop with us…Thank you; we greatly appreciate each one of you!