Felpausch

Felpausch was founded in 1933 by Roman C. Felpausch in Hastings, Michigan. A store in Albion was built in 1954.^[1] By 1962, the chain was also in Eaton Rapids, Marshall, and Mason.^[2]

In 1971, the Felpausch chain expanded by buying former Harding's Market locations in Delton and Bronson, Michigan.^[3] The Bronson store was sold in 1982.^[4]

Felpausch was run by the fifth generation of family members, and began operating as an associate-owned company since 1995. The following year, in 1996, it acquired locations from South Haven-based Village Markets in Dowagiac, Paw Paw, and Benton Harbor. The Benton Harbor store, originally built as Jewel, was closed after only 10 months.^[5]

A branch in Battle Creek was converted to an upscale prototype called Zucca's in 2004.^[6] Jackson, Michigan and another in Battle Creek were both reconfigured in 2006 to have Ace Hardware franchises.^[7] These stores were also converted Jewel locations; the one in Battle Creek opened in 1994 to replace two other locations elsewhere in Battle Creek that had both previously been Kroger locations.^[8] The replacement closed in 2008.^[9]

In March 2007, it was announced that Felpausch was being purchased by nearby-based distributor and retailer Spartan Stores (now SpartanNash).^[10] Spartan re-branded most of the Felpausch locations under the names D&W Fresh Market and Family Fare.^[11] The Felpausch store in Charlotte was closed and converted to a health office by 2008.^[12] The original Felpausch store in Hastings closed in 2008 and became an Ace Hardware,^[13] followed by the closure of the Felpausch store in Kalamazoo in 2009.^[14] The former Felpausch location in Grand Ledge was shuttered in 2013 after a brief conversion to Family Fare.^[15] The Felpausch location in Mason became a Save-A-Lot which closed in January 2015.^[16]