06/21/2019
To Our Valued Customer
We are making a decision to leave the grocery business in South Roanoke. Tinnell's Finer Foods is a one-of-a-kind store that has maintained traditions, while adapting as the food and wine business have been transformed over the 2 decades since we bought the store. Last summer, we sought ideas for reinventing Tinnell’s at our customer-driven “Design Thinking” event, resulting in many examples of changing grocery customer needs. After a long period of reflection on what our family could do to make the significant infrastructure and product mix changes, we started looking at options for the store to become the best model for serving the Crystal Spring neighborhood.
The local Ellerman family, along with members of their creative team at River and Rail, have prepared a business plan and design for the store that meets what many of our neighbors and friends told us they wanted in Crystal Spring. We have decided to sell the property and pass the baton for a new generation to shepherd this unique neighborhood treasure. Many improvements are required to update the old building to make necessary space and usage changes, and construction will begin soon.
We want to thank our employees for their service, especially Angela Minnix, who has been part of the Tinnell’s magic for 22 years; we are grateful for the effort they all put into making a trip to Tinnell’s a special event. We have loved our customers and having Tinnell’s serve as a hub and gathering place for the neighborhood. We feel that this transition to a new business model is the best opportunity to provide a wider selection of prepared foods, wine and beer, local products and specialty items, with added dining options, while remaining a central feature of this wonderful neighborhood.
Sincerely Rett and Maria Ward
