Route 66 Market opens on Hwy. 96

New shop brings deli sandwiches, more to Lawrence County
 
Route 66 Market opened its doors along Highway 96 near Miller on Jan. 6. The new venture sets out to provide for the citizens of Miller in any way possible through a variety of goods.
The market, which shares its building with the recently moved Triple H Feeds, hosts a deli with many cheese and meat options. In addition, the store carries necessities for citizens who would have to drive much further otherwise.
Sitting at a square footage of about 2,200, the store offers produce, snacks, clothing, books and about anything one could need. Of these, though, sandwiches have been among the biggest sellers, according to co-owner Matthew Hostetler.
On the first day of operation, Route 66 Market saw more than 400 customers come through their doors, and it is estimated that on the first day, about 150 sandwiches were sold, also selling them out of many meats and cheeses. Many of the items stocked in the store come from around the area, even featuring camel milk from a nearby dairy.
The market shares a building with Triple H Feed Store, operated by the same family. The feed store has been around for quite some time, beginning as a small mobile home and moving into a larger building located about a mile off of Highway 96. The idea for a market, albeit on a smaller scale, began around this time as well. When Shady Oak Variety in Buffalo closed, the stock, mostly books, was bought up in 2015 and offered in a variety store operating out of a small building next to the mobile home, eventually finding a new home once the feed store upgraded its building. This all changed, however, when a property at the intersection of Highway 96 and M highway went up for sale last year, offering the perfect opportunity and location to expand business and better serve the community. This new location is also much more accessible, pulling in more new faces than ever before.
The business has since been going strong and plans to keep growing with the community. Service is the main goal of the shop, according to Hostetler, who hopes to provide anything that the customers may need. In the future, the store plans to continue adding to its collection based on community feedback.
“It’s always about being of service to the community,” said Hostetler.