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The Straughn community will soon see a much larger Tiger Quick Stop after the store announced plans of expanding the building and growing the business.

Ram Patel purchased the building from Chris and Amber Lewis and took over the property Sept. 27. The store reopened to the public Nov. 15. “I was told the previous owner wanted to sell it and decided to buy it. Everything has been going well, and we are staying busy. We are expanding the building and adding on to the deli,” he said.

Customers will notice some of those upgrades and modifications now, while others are in the works.

“We have a bigger deli display, so we can cook more food. We now have Hunt Brothers Pizza and more room in the front of the store but are nowhere near done. We will be getting new gas pumps, new outside lighting, and more shelves for more groceries,” Manager Wendy Gilbert said.

Gilbert was also the manager under the store’s previous ownership. “When Mr. Patel was looking the store over, he liked the way I work. I treat the store as if it were mine and expect everyone else to do the same. Working for someone new is always the biggest change, but we have a great boss. Mr. Patel is wonderful,” she said.

According to Gilbert, the store was closed for over a month, but construction has not been completed. Hopes are to have construction finalized within the next couple of months. She enjoys the customers who visit the store and her work family the most.

“Ms. Joan Stevens runs our deli, and Mr. Patel is a great boss to work under. We have a full deli for breakfast and lunch along with Hunt Brothers Pizza Monday through Saturday. We only accept call-in orders on Sunday right now but would like to get the deli going on Sundays. If anyone would like to order fried chicken, chicken strips, or fish, please call or come see us on your way to church. We will have it ready for you when you get out of church,” Gilbert said.

Tiger Quick Stop is located at 29102 Straughn School Road and is currently open from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday. For more information call 334-222-2878 or visit their Facebook page.

“If you don’t have good customer service, you won’t have the customers. All of our customers become an extended family to us. Without them, we would be nothing,” Gilbert said.