PITTSBURG, Kan. — The first Chamber Coffee of the new year was packed as community members celebrated Ron’s Supermarket’s 50th Anniversary with a special ribbon cutting commemorating the occasion.
Founders of the grocery store, Ron and Barbara Rhodes, were present at the event.
“We opened 50 years ago and our dream was to run a clean, well-run store and take care of our staff and take care of our customers to the best of our ability,” Ron said. “And every morning, get up with the idea that we’re going to do a little better than we did yesterday. And that’s where we started and quite truthfully that’s the story as it was 50 years ago.”
The Rhodes Family kicked off the celebration on Wednesday by discounting 10,000 items in the store. Drew and Tim Rhodes, Ron and Barbara’s sons and co-owners and operators of the business said they wanted to ease the expense of grocery shopping in the community.
“We want you to feel good about buying your groceries at a family-owned business in Southeast Kansas,” Drew said. “You deserve better.”
Tim credited the store’s staff for their loyalty and dedication for many years, stating that some of their employees have been working there since they were in high school.
“Every member on our team is what allows us to be here today,” Tim said. “And I want to say thank you to every single one of them. You make my job easier and it's a pleasure to have you guys on the team and work with us.”
Drew said they wanted to continue to give back to the community as much and as often as they can.
“We’re excited to be here and we want to be here for a long time,” “That’s what Tim and I’s vision is, is to be here for a long time.”
Ron’s Supermarket has partnered with Jock’s Nitch, The Mall Deli, Chatters, Miners + Monroe, Gorilla Country, John’s Sports Center, Embellish Boutique, Jay Hatfield, Walker Automotive, Blue Bell, Boar’s Head, Pepsi, Highland and Bellatoria Pizza to make their 50th anniversary special for consumers over the next six months.
“Ron’s and the Rhodes Family have been such an incredible part of this community for 50 years,” Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce President Blake Benson said. “One of the things that makes this community so special is, not only has this community supported this family and this store, but the Rhodes are textbook examples of how to support a community and how that relationship should work. So, we’re just really proud of them and appreciate all they have done.”
Patrons who shop at Ron’s Supermarket, located at 310 Centennial Drive, from now until June and use their Ron’s reward card for discounts, will be entered for a chance to win a 2026 Jeep Gladiator Sport S 4×4.
This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.
