Business Spotlight: Harter House Supermarket

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By the 1970s, most shoppers had grown used to buying pre-cut, pre-packaged meat at the supermarket. Jerry and Barbara Bettlach, however, believed some customers still longed for the good old days when you could tell the butcher how you would like your meat cut.|ret||ret||tab|

Based on Harter House Supermarket's success, they were right.|ret||ret||tab|

During the past 29 years, Harter House has built a reputation and a loyal customer base by offering a wide selection of cut-to-order meats.|ret||ret||tab|

A little more than seven years ago, before Jerry Bettlach passed away, the couple hired Dale Dothage to serve as the store's manager. Dothage who has worked on and off at Harter House since 1974, said he's continuing to keep Jerry Bettlach's spirit alive by honoring his commitment to "take care of the customers.|ret||ret||tab|

"We have absolutely the best customers bar none," said Dothage. "They're very, very loyal to us, and we try to be very loyal to them, too."|ret||ret||tab|

The Bettlachs got into the supermarket business in November 1973 when they bought a small, old-fashioned, neighborhood meat market located on West Sunshine. The store quickly became a family operation. Jerry Bettlach, a third-generation butcher, cut meat; Barbara kept the books; and the couple's five children helped wherever they were needed.|ret||ret||tab|

"Self-service meat departments were the norm back then, but we stressed a service meat department," said Bettlach. "That's what has made us stand out all these years."|ret||ret||tab|

Barbara's brother, Jim Trimble, became a business partner in 1974. A year later, they began expanding, and the store moved to a larger location on South Campbell. In 1976, a second store opened on North Glenstone, and in 1980, a third store opened in Kimberling City. The trio soon discovered, however, that running three stores wasn't easy. |ret||ret||tab|

"We scaled up and decided that wasn't such a good idea, so we scaled back," said Bettlach. |ret||ret||tab|

Trimble became the sole owner of the South Campbell Street store while the Bettlachs became the sole owners of the North Glenstone location. The Kimberling City store then was sold to the Bettlachs' son, Butch Bettlach. |ret||ret||tab|

In 1989, the Bettlachs decided to move Harter House from its location on North Glenstone to Republic Road. At the time, the move seemed questionable, since there weren't many businesses in that area of South Springfield. |ret||ret||tab|

"We were one of the first stores out here," said Bettlach. "The area has changed a lot since we first opened."|ret||ret||tab|

Indeed, Harter House now sits in the middle of a thriving retail area. The number of residential and commercial housing developments in the area also have increased over the years, which helped add many new shoppers to the store's existing customer base.|ret||ret||tab|

In December 1993, Trimble closed his store on South Campbell due to health reasons, and the East Republic Road store became the only Harter House in Springfield.|ret||ret||tab|

According to Bettlach, many of the customers who frequented the South Campbell and North Glenstone stores still come to Harter House.|ret||ret||tab|

"From the very beginning, we stressed consistency and quality," said Bettlach. "Our customer service level is above and beyond. That's why people from all over Springfield and the surrounding area come here."|ret||ret||tab|

Although the Harter House on East Republic Road offers shoppers a wide selection, it still feels like a small neighborhood supermarket. Many of the store's 75 part-time and full-time employees have worked for the company for many years, and they address customers by name.|ret||ret||tab|

Personal service also is apparent in the store's meat and deli departments, which still give customers the option of having their meat cut to order. In addition, shoppers can find a wide selection of fresh fruit and vegetables in the store's produce department or pick up a fresh loaf of bread, a custom-made cake or another dessert in the bakery department. |ret||ret||tab|

Harter House is undergoing a number of renovations, including upgrading and expanding the bakery department. Melvin Garrison, whose company Melvin Garrison Construction Co. Inc. in Thornfield is serving as general contractor for the project, said another checkout lane will be added when work on the bakery is complete. |ret||ret||tab|

According to Bettlach, the remodeling and renovation effort reflects how the store has continued to change and evolve over the years so it could better meet the needs of its customers. |ret||ret||tab|

"A lot of the profits go right back into the store, and I think it shows," Bettlach said.|ret||ret||tab|

In addition, she said that Associated Wholesale Grocers of Springfield uses Harter House as a "test store" for many of its new ideas, which has helped the supermarket stay on the cutting edge. AWG also uses Harter Houses as an example of how to best merchandise perishable food items in various departments.|ret||ret||tab|

"We look at AWG as being partners in our success," Bettlach said. |ret||ret||tab|

Despite the many changes that have taken place over the years, Harter House is still a family-owned and operated business. Two of the Bettlachs' daughters Kathy Richards and Michelle Kauffman, who also co-own Associated Video Producers work at the Springfield store. Meanwhile, son Butch Bettlach, a fourth-generation butcher, runs the Kimberling City location.|ret||ret||tab|

The fifth generation of Bettlachs also is involved in the family's business. Recently Butch Bettlachs' two sons, Andrew and Bradley, opened a Harter House Supermarket in Strafford.|ret||ret||tab|

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