Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce

Entrepreneurs

of the Year

www.chillicotheohio.com

Mission statement: The Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce promotes economic and community development by providing services and addressing issues important to business.

Each year for more than 20 years, your chamber has honored from its ranks an Entrepreneur of the Year to recognize ther value-added contributions to our community and economy. The award was made possible by a grant from Leo and Julia Blackburn who founded what was then known as the Southeastern Business College.

Long-time grocer latest

Entrepreneur of the Year

Carl Janes has weathered the innumerable changes and challenges in the grocery business to survive and thrive for 46 years. His perseverance was rewarded February 7 by the chamber in being named the 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year.

Janes became the 24^th winner of the chamber’s most prestigious award at the Annual Dinner attended by about 230 at the Chillicothe Country Club. Andrew Doehrel, president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, was the featured speaker.

Save-A-Lot on Western Avenue is the flagship store for the Janes family business that now includes stores in Athens, Hillsboro, Lebanon, Uhrichsville and Greenfield. More than 125 are employed in all of the stores.

Janes started his grocery empire in 1962 when he and his wife, the former Lois Knapp, opened Carl’s Market at the corner of Charleston Pike and Blacksmith Hill Road, selling goods that included sweet corn, vegetables and eggs from their own farm. That business continued to grow, but profit margins continued to shrink.

In 1983, he decided to take a chance in the new Sunrush Development and opened an IGA store on Western Avenue. Thirteen years later and with more family involved in the business, he decided to take another chance, going with the new concept of the “limited assortment” approach of the Save-A-Lot stores. A year later, the Athens store opened, then two more in 2001, another in 2004 and Greenfield in 2006.

Janes, a graduate of Chillicothe High School and Navy veteran, served as president and board member of the Central Ohio Retail Grocers Association and the Ohio Retail Grocers Association.

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