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 to Albert Romund. A monster of a man Romund could lift two 100 pound feed sacks - one in each hand.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
For more than 75 years, as Houston evolved from small town to huge international city, Quality Feed & Garden Inc. has been a feed store on North Main St. |
