By Sue Moore
“Business is getting better every day,” said Paul Nimana, the new owner of Lakeshore Market at 9119 S. Sprinkle Road near Long Lake. He has been open six weeks with a totally new look to the grocery store, a greatly needed change, according to people who have come back to shop.
“It’s clean and so handy for those of us who live nearby,” said Kevin Baker of the Greenfield Shores area. “I’m glad I don’t have to drive to Portage Road or even into Vicksburg to get groceries.”
The market closed three years ago and Nimana was able to purchase it at the right price, he said. “It is a good location as there is a definite need for a grocery store near the lake, the area subdivisions and the golf course at Indian Run. I’m starting slowly to see what items are needed by my customers so we don’t make mistakes. We have frozen meat from Pease Packing Corp in Scotts, fresh produce, beer, wine and spirits. We have a small section of each and everything a household needs so customers don’t have to drive a long way. We also have plans to open packaged meat and prepared hot food in the future.”
He redesigned the market shelves so anyone looking for something could easily find it. The prices are similar to those in big box stores, he said. He has dedicated a large cooler for beer, which in the past had been in a small section of the store.
Nimana is a native of India and a Sikh. He came to the United States in 1990 after being educated at a university in India in English, political science and public administration. He settled at Fisher Lake, in St. Joseph county and brought his family here in 1996. He goes back to India once a year to visit his father and friends. “We love this country and choose to live here,” Nimana said.
The family is living in Portage and Nimana is the proud owner of Stadium Discount Liquor and Wine on Stadium Drive in Kalamazoo. At one time he owned the BP gas station at the corner of Sprinkle and V Avenue in Vicksburg and the Sunset Market at Portage Road and W. Prairie Street. His wife and son are part of his team at the Stadium Discount store. He has three full-time employees at Lakeshore Market.
“I’ve turned around three stores and thought I would try something new with Lakeshore Market,” he said.