|
 |
| History |
Since 1928,
as Houston evolved from small town to international city, there
has been a feed store on its two-acre plot along North Main
Street. Today, more than 75 years later, the store proudly
serves as one of the oldest Purina feed and garden stores in
the United States.
In 1928, founder J.C. Millis built the store. Back then,
all feed store fronts were uniquely painted so customers
could easily recognize the brand of feed they carried. The
building was painted with red chains on its facade, and the
business was established as a Red Chain brand feed store.
|
| Millis owned the store until 1938 when he sold out
to Albert Romund.
Romund was a monster of a man who could lift two 100
pound feed sacks - one in each hand. Known as "Slim" by
most folks, Romund was offered a prestigious Purina
franchise deal he eagerly accepted. The new Purina
dealership was re-painted in the traditional Purina
red and white checkerboard style with blue trim, and
renamed Quality Feed
Company. |
Albert
Romund and his wife |
|
| |
Alton
Behrend and Lydia
Romund |
In 1949, Romund became unexpectedly ill, and is brother-in-law Alton
Behrend, who had just returned from naval duties in World War
II, purchased the business that year. Behrend became the new "Slim" and
served as sole proprietor with help from his sister Lydia
Romund, wife of Albert Romund. |
|
Quality Feed Company - 1953
|
Chris
Bules and Ken
Cousino |
At the age of 70, Behrend decided to retire. With
a simple handshake deal, current owners Chris
Bules and Ken
Cousino purchased the store in 1991.
Ohioans by birth and Texans since 1983, both Bules
and Cousino had agricultural backgrounds in livestock
production, and farming grain crops and alfalfa. The
feed and garden business turned out to be a great opportunity
for them to build on those experiences.
In 2001, the feed store's name changed again to Quality
Feed & Garden Inc. Its products and services also changed
to meet the evolving needs of animals, lawns and gardens. But the ambiance, personal
service, reasonable prices, and honest and knowledgeable expertise have stayed
the same. |
|
|
And we're pretty sure its the things that haven't changed
that will keep folks coming back to the old feed store on
its two-acre plot along North Main Street.
|
| |
|
