Sullivan’s Foods, 300 N. Madison Street, has been an evolving enterprise in Morrison, IL, since “the late 1970’s” decided siblings Scott and Susie Sullivan–long enough that the family business partners could not remember the exact year. He remembered, “We opened the Savanna[, IL,] store in 1967,” when he was in Junior High. Following “five months of deconstruction and reconstruction,” at noon on Friday, March 2, 2018, they celebrated the grand reopening of a Sullivan’s Foods “superstore,” with a Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting.
Shown left-to-right are, front row, Myra Huizenga; McDonald’s District Manager Elisa Reifsteck; Melissa Gbbard and her daughter; Manager Danny Baker; State Representative Tony McCombie; owner Scott Sullivan; son Joe Sullivan; Sandra Crouse; “Bud” McWorthy. In the back row are Director of Operations at Karpinske Enterprises (Formerly McDonald’s Corporation) John Leu; City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen; Chamber Board member Pam Pfister; Mayor Everett Pannier; Chamber Board member Kevin Schisler; Alderman Mick Welding; Assistant Manager Vinny Polise; Associated Warehouse Groceries District Manager John Furst; owner Susan Sullivan; Chamber Coordinator Meridith Layne.
The six Sullivan siblings own a dozen Illinois stores in Freeport, Kewanee, Lena, Marengo, Mendota, Morrison, Mount Morris, Princeton, Rochelle, Savanna, Stockton, and Winnebago. In the past they had a store in Prophetstown. Scott stated about his son, “After college graduation, Joe has been here since December[ 2017]. I said he had to learn where I started, in the Meat Department.”
He thanked “all the customers for their patience during the [transition]. We’ve got a nice attraction, with our deli, colder cases, and new shelves and registers. It was a lot of money, and all the improvements are on the inside. We are new, improved, spicy, and ready to go for the next 20 years!” Past improvements included replacing the HVAC system and, recently, a new roof.
“Susie was the backbone of putting this thing together,” complimented Scott. “It takes a team,” she replied. Susan applied her design expertise and has completed “95% of the decor.” Her final task is to add interest to Sully’s Coffee Corner, where shoppers can sit to enjoy a buffet Deli meal, beverage, or snack. Catfish and cod are specialties this weekend. There are eight options of Blue Bunny ice cream flavors. Susan is shown with free, mini waffle cones that were available on Saturday, March 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Scott thanked his Morrison management team: Danny Baker has worked for the company 40 years, since he was a teen in Prophetstown. Rodney Van Zuiden also has worked 40 years; his wife, Deann has been there 35 years.
Baker stated, “We’re ready to roll.”
The redesigned layout eliminated diagonal aisles. Large-print signage throughout aids the search effort down wide aisles. You can read the far signs from the front of the store. Items on the left side of the sign are found on the left side of the aisle. New deeper, taller shelving holds more product.
“We have 8000-to-10,000 new items,” exclaimed Scott Sullivan. “We doubled the size of the store to 32,000 square feet!”
Labeling of special areas uses white on bright Sullivan’s green, adding cohesiveness. Employees will no longer have to wear “Looking for something? Ask me” signs, in order to help shoppers find their merchandise. Even better, now that the redesign is nearly done, the merchandise will stay in place–as commanded by the aisle signs.
The Deli still prepares ready-made dishes, sells sliced meat and cheese, and caters. What is new are the expanded choices–just count the potato salad varieties. In addition, there are serve-yourself meal offerings to purchase (and pay at the checkout lane) and a larger place to eat them.
Manager Baker said they are hiring in the Bakery and Deli Departments, for persons age 18 and over. “You have to be available at any time,” he noted. He has hired two generations of employees while working for Sullivan’s Foods. Contact Danny Baker at the store.
“We want to let people know we’re finished. [We know] they’ll be back. We’re very price competitive,” remarked Scott Sullivan. “We had to change warehouses [to AWG] to get the new product lines, to compete with Wal-Mart and Aldi. AGW sells in 36 states. We’re as good as you can get!” He noted the store’s “Best Choice” lines are very good quality.
Stop in soon to share the Sullivan’s Foods pride of ownership. Their major reinvestment in Morrison was done to benefit residents of the surrounding area and 62 employees. Well done, Sullivan family!
