Same family approach
Story by Eryn Ellard
Photos by Graham Hadley
There are certain things about life that are inevitable, change being one of them. People and places can’t stay the same forever. For the folks who have lived in Cropwell on the outskirts of Pell City, there has been one big change this year – the demolition and ultimate rebuilding and rebranding of the old Richey’s Grocery.
For years, the tiny country store was more than just the last place to pick up milk on your way home from work; it was the gathering place for the small community – the coffee was always hot and the Blue Bell ice cream was always cold. Eventually, though, the old, family-run business closed its doors and in 2017, new owners took over.
Business partners Danny Dinani and Frank Devani saw lots of potential in the old building, its history and ideal location just a stone’s throw from Logan Martin Lake.
Dinani, who has made a career in retail for over 20 years, acquired the property in 2017, and also moved his family to Pell City to start their lives in the small town.
“The lake and the community were a big selling point for me,” Dinani said. There are very nice people here, and it is a family-oriented place.”
Recognizing that many people in the area know each other and their families, Dinani said the purchase was pretty much a no-brainer. “My customers know me and my family very well. It is a safe place to live, raise children and work in,” Dinani noted.
During the COVID-19 shutdown, Dinani said his store remained open, serving the small community in a big way. It was then when he and his partner decided that it was time to build a new Richey’s Grocery.
“The town of Cropwell is growing, so we wanted to grow along with it,” he said. “It also needed some changes, such as including a package store, new gas pumps, fishing supplies and groceries.”
The store was closed for nine months while the demolition of the old store and construction of its newer, more modern version was built. Richey’s reopened at the beginning of the year, officially three times the size of the old landmark store. The new store features a beer cave, which stays at a cool 32 degrees 24 hours a day.
Dinani has two full-time employees, and he and other members of his family also work there.
“The customers are all very friendly, they have welcomed me and my family with open arms, and we are very thankful for that.”
