Company founder agrees to sell Harter House store

Regional grocery chain Harter House co-founder Barbara Bettlach has agreed to sell the Republic Road store to her grandson.

Andrew Bettlach, who bought the 2010-opened Nixa location of Harter House in 2013, penned a deal to close Jan. 1 on the acquisition of the 1500 E. Republic Road store, Barbara Bettlach said. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“It’s kind of a family affair. I wanted to be sure it passed along in a good manner,” said Bettlach, who founded the company in 1973 with her husband Jerry. “I didn’t want there to be a lot of problems if and when something happens to me.”

Jerry Bettlach died in 1997. The family currently operates six stores.

Barbara Bettlach will remain president of corporate entity Harter House-Glenstone Inc. She co-owns the company’s other Springfield store, 1625 S. Eastgate Ave., with her daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Randy Richards.

Bettlach’s son, Butch, and his wife, Lisa, own the company’s Kimberling City and Hollister stores, and her grandson, Bradley, and his wife, Angela, own the Strafford store.

Dale Dothage, the Bettlach’s first employee, retired earlier this year as store manager of the Republic Road store.