Nationwide grocery stores such as Walmart Supercenter, Kroger and Aldi pull Athens locals and Ohio University students to their grocery aisles for shopping. While these stores are close to campus and efficient due to high selections, Bulk Food Depot lies off the beaten path.
Located on 5457 Radford Rd., Bulk Food Depot provides foods, ingredients and allergen-friendly products in a variety of quantities. A five pound bag of old fashioned oats is $4.95, with a five pound bag of all purpose flour costing $4.30 and two pounds of popcorn costing $3.
The Depot’s shelves are stocked with products including baking supplies, broth and bouillon, candies and snacks, cereals, nuts and seeds, oats, condiments, dried fruits and vegetables, teas and more.
Gary Wells, co-owner of the store, established the location in 1997 with the help of his brother, John Wells, according to the Depot website. Danielle Wells, born in Beirut, Lebanon, married into the store after “embarking on a mission to become Mrs. Wells” and worked ever since. Together, the team of two handles operations.
“We buy in bulk (food products), and we sell in consumer sized (bulk) packages,” Gary Wells said. “Being able to provide the food items that people want and need at a price that they can afford (is rewarding).”
Behind the scenes, Danielle Wells packages products and does paperwork. Although she contributes to managing and operating the store, she personally enjoys working with the customers first-hand.
“Sometimes, customers come in with a request, and if we can find it and it’s feasible for us, then we order it and sell it,” Danielle Wells said.
A customer, Audrey Carey, is a registered nurse and Athens local. Carey said she started shopping at Bulk Food Depot several years ago. A gluten-free patient of hers recommended the store, and it is now a staple place for Carey when grocery shopping. Carey said she has a simple foundation of her loyalty and frequent return.
“Local support … and prices, they are pretty good,” Carey said. “(It is) easy, convenient and personal.”
While Carey purchases many of her basic grocery products from Bulk Food Depot, the baking flour is the real showstopper.
“Organic flour, flour from Italy … you can’t find that unless you’re going to Columbus,” Carey said. “If you’re doing a lot of baking, the flour prices you can’t get at a regular grocery store.”
Devoted customers like Carey contributed to the growth and stability of Bulk Food Depot over the years.
“The business has grown,” Danielle Wells said. “There was a time when I first came and sometimes we wouldn’t have enough customers, so we would sit outside and read a book. We can’t do that anymore.”
Gary Wells dove deeper into the analytics of the consumers’ contribution.
“We have great support,” Gary Wells said. “Probably 80% of our customers are repeat customers. We have some who shop every week or every two weeks to buy the basics.”
Gary Wells said there are a few faithful customers who have been purchasing items since the store’s origin and are still frequent shoppers today.
Over the years, Gary and Danielle Wells picked their own favorite items sold in the store. Golden basmati rice, za’atar spice, black beans and small red beans are some of Danielle Wells’ go-to items to cook with.
Agreeing with Danielle Wells, Carey said she finds the rice to be a necessity.
“I love the yellow basmati rice,” Carey said. “The store owner told me about it.”
Although Bulk Food Depot is a grocery store, its management runs deeper than a surface-level, customer-employee interaction. To Danielle Wells, it is a personal exchange where locals help locals.
“Sometimes they (customers) ask for advice, and we are able to give them an answer,” Danielle Wells said. “If we don’t know the answer, we look it up for them … it’s customer service.”
Bulk Food Depot not only supplies products for consumers, but a connection between customers and owners.
“You hear people’s stories and you interact with them, and maybe, in some way, you can make a difference,” Danielle Wells said. “I feel that when I ask, ‘How are you today?’ I look into your eyes and I really want to know. I mean it, and that’s important. That you are seen and heard.”
