K & M – An essential part of the Obetz community
If you’re an Obetz resident, you have more than likely been to the K & M Market. Here’s a little bit about their history and their role in our community.
History of K & M
The letters in K & M stand for “Kelly” and “Murphy” and its first location was on the corner of Frebis and Lockbourne in 1975. Later down the road, another location was opened right here in Obetz. Joe Groom (already a partner in the business) fell in love with Obetz and decided that he wanted to branch off and buy the Obetz K & M outright. Originally, the store location was where MAD Graphics is located now, but the store has been in its current location on Lancaster Avenue since 1991.
The Ultimate Convenience Store
Joe and his two sons, Joe and Kevin, love being the go-to store for the Obetz community. Their everyday goal is making sure they do their part to be the ultimate convenience for the community. They approach this by always putting the customer first and providing whatever the customer needs and keeping items at a fair price.
Why Obetz?
When K & M first opened in Obetz, Joe fell in love with the community and the people. The Groom family described Obetz as having a small town feel like no other, and the closeness they have with the community couldn’t be found anywhere else. They feel that Obetz is full of hard-working, down-to-earth people and they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
Direction of Obetz Has Never Been Better
Even with the growth and change Obetz has seen in recent years, the Groom family loves the fact that everyone still seems to know each other and treat each other like family. They feel that the direction Obetz is moving has never been better. The Grooms believe that there has never been a better time to move to Obetz to make a living and start a family.
They credited some of Obetz’s amenities like the splash pad and other parks, schools, affordability of the Athletic Club, and the new Fortress Obetz stadium as being part of the reason Obetz is unparalleled when looking at other towns and villages. They feel that these amenities combined with all of the businesses that are constantly moving to Obetz are only helping the K & M. As Obetz continues to grow and improve, they see the same in their business.
A Few Favorite Aspects
One of their favorite parts about being in Obetz is the closeness they share with the community. They shared that seeing generation after generation of families and being a part of their lives is something that they really enjoy. The Grooms also expressed that they love being in a place where they can hear all the great things people have to say about the community. They experienced this most recently with the Fortress Fireworks, where they were able to hear nothing but great things from the community. They feel really grateful to be able to have this kind of special relationship with the community.
The Future
The Groom family is excited to see what the future holds for Obetz. While Obetz unfolds their plans for the future, the Grooms have a plan of their own: Continue to serve the Obetz community and ensure everyone leaves with a smile!
