“Getting to know the community has been really important to me from day one,” said Todd Daniels, owner and operator of Todd’s IGA Express in Trenton. “This was instilled in me by my father and has served me well. I have made many friends since I opened my doors in 1987.”
The first store began August 1980 with his father, Bill Daniels Sr. Then it was the Convenient Food Mart in Monroe at St. Rt. 63 and East Avenue.
“At that time, it was strictly a family-owned and operated business consisting of my father, my two brothers and myself,” Todd said. “We also employed two cashiers.”
Todd and his father, who died in December 2014, opened a Convenient Food Mart in Trenton June 1987. The family began their stores as Convenient Food Marts. Then they became Ameristop Food Marts in 1989. They have been IGA Express stores since 2007.
Todd has two stores. Besides owning and operating Todd’s IGA Express in Trenton, he co-owns and operates the Hunter IGA Express in Hunter, Ohio with Vince Vaske.
Bill Daniels Jr., Todd’s brother, owns and operates the Monroe and Lebanon IGA Express stores. His brother, Doug, owns and operates the IGA Express in Millville.
“Over the years, our family has owned other locations in Middletown, Ross and Liberty Township,” said Todd.
Todd and his wife, Sarah, haved owned a 150-year-old home in Hamilton’s Dayton Lane Historic District for 31 years.
“We have enjoyed renovating and redesigning our Victorian Home,” Todd said. “I enjoy good food, and blessed with a wife who can cook anything. We like to travel when we can and spending time with our family.”
They enjoy activities the Greater Cincinnati area has to offer.
“At my store, Todd’s IGA Express, we have grown with the city of Trenton,” Todd said. “We are expanding our footprint to incorporate more fresh products made in-store by adding a full-service kitchen and butcher shop on site. We are adding more produce, dairy, frozen foods and groceries to our already expansive inventory. This will give our customers more choice, variety and easier shopping experience.
“I have definitely enjoyed developing relationships and lifelong friendships with our customers and community schools, churches, athletic, government services, parks and recreation, youth sports leagues … It has been such a great opportunity to watch the City of Trenton grow. We have served generations, and I believe small businesses can really nurture these relationships.”
They have provided all of the coffee and supplies for Edgewood Athletic Boosters Concessions since 1987.
“We helped establish Christmas in Trenton and were hands-on,” Todd said.
“It has been our honor to serve the Edgewood Band Boosters, Choraliers and FFA throughout the years,” Todd said. “We have instilled the importance of giving back to the community in our daughters as children, as we participated in Soup for Seniors and Raskals, where we volunteered as a family.
“We have been conscientious and committed to working in and with the community, schools, churches and the City of Trenton.”
Contact this contributing writer shirl54bel@gmail.com
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