5th St. Food Mart celebrates 20 years

[November 15, 2010]  Cliff McCumber was spending most of Saturday's open house celebration visiting with customers at his 5th St. Food Mart. Cliff knew most of them by name, and it was obvious that Cliff and his customers have more than just a business relationship. They are all friends.

"I tell my people I want the customers treated like they are family or company in their home," Cliff said. That relationship between McCumber's staff and customers over the years has brought the gas station and convenience-type store a large number of loyal customers.

The store is Cliff's passion after 20 years at the location, and although he said he wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, it wasn't something he had planned.

Cliff was raised in a small Wisconsin town that had 20 inhabitants if you counted the dogs, he recalled. His family had a country market-type store that serviced the surrounding area, but someday owning his own store wasn't in his plans.

Cliff's mother, Judy, had moved to Lincoln with a sister in 1986 and co-owned the then-Convenience Food Mart. In 1989, Judy bought out her sister.

In 1991 Cliff came to Lincoln to visit and then decided to stay a few weeks, and those few weeks have turned into two decades.

"I came to Lincoln to say hi and I forgot to leave," Cliff said with a smile. "But this whole experience has been wonderful for me."

In 1994 the store became independent and was named 5th St. Food Mart.

The business just finished a major expansion that allowed McCumber to install extra fuel pumps as well as increase the parking for his customers.

"This was important for me," he said. "I could see my loyal customers going around the block to try and buy gas or something else from me, and the pumps were full or there were no parking spots. This (expansion) will help me serve my customers."

Cliff said that outside of fuel, the most popular item he sells is his chicken. He's been selling livers and gizzards for 18 years.

McCumber said that the greatest challenge in today's economic times is to keep expenses firmly under control but to maintain customer service. He currently has 11 employees to help with that service.

McCumber recently acquired and remodeled Dick Logan's former auto repair shop across the street and intends to use that for his "hobby that has grown legs."

C & C Cycles will offer motorcycle repairs, parts and accessories for the biker enthusiasts in the area.

McCumber said the expansion to have the whole block for his business was a personal dream of his, "and thanks to all the people of Lincoln I have been able to see it happen."

[By MIKE FAK]