There is more than what meets the eye with the family that is Bill's IGA

Bill’s IGA is a Chamber of Commerce business that everyone in Staunton and surrounding areas find familiar, but do you really know Bill’s? Hopefully, this article will shed some light on the history about Bill’s that their customers did not know about.

The store opened at the current location in Dec. 1961, as Grimm’s IGA, and the owner was Alvin Grimm. At that time, everything was priced stamped and had to be erased if the price changed. The next owner was Clarence Bruhn, who operated at Bruhn’s IGA from 1974 to 1981 and from there Bill and Sue Miller became the owners.

Bill started as a carryout for Alvin while in high school in 1962. He left for four years when he served in the Navy, but Alvin told him that if he returned, the store could be his one day. When he returned to Staunton in 1970, his job was still waiting. He purchased the store in May, 1981, operating it as Bill’s IGA ever since. In 1986, an addition was added to the store almost doubling it in size. Today, Bill’s daughter, Becky Painter, who is also a CPA and son, Billy Miller, who has a degree in Computer Networking, manage the store.

Bill’s offers online shopping with curbside pickup at http://www.shopbillsiga.com. They also provide delivery services on WEdnesday’s for senior citizens and shut-ins in the nearby communities. You can also use the DoorDash app to shop from home and have your order delivered by the Dasher.

For a grocery store with a small space, Bill’s goes out of their way to accommodate special requests and provide local and unique products. Billy often makes trips to St. Louis to pick-up specialty items that customers like to purchase, but are only found in the St. Louis markets. Bill’s takes pride in their full-service meat department.

The meat is cut or ground freshy throughout the day. Specialty cuts can be requested from the butchers who are available every day until 6 p.m. The meat department also carries many specialty products from local meat markets, as well as makes their own bratwurst, bulk suasage, barbecue, and sandwich spreads and preapres the baked ham and rotisserie chickens for the full service deli.

Bill’s IGA is a union store that employs 44 full and part-time employees. Some of the employees have been with the business for 30 to 40 years and range in age from 16-years old to some in their 70’s.

Bill’s takes pride in their community support and customer service, supporting their business motto of Hometown Proud IGA. The store also coordinates with the South Macoupin Co-op for Special Education classes to offer employment or the chance to co-op for some of the students. It’s a win-win for both groups. Bill’s gets help during the day where it can be hard to find youthful help and it provides life skills' learning. Bill’s IGA was recently awarded the, “Building Up Bulldogs," for going above and beyond to support students and the school.