NEWELL—They say all good things must come to an end, and so it is with the life-long grocer Howard (Howdy) Roy Hobernicht, owner of Newmart Grocery Store in Newell, SD. The business is set to close at the end of the month, June 30.
Opening in 1916, the Newell Grocery Store has been a staple in the community for many years, closing for just two years during that time before reopening with the current owner. “It closed down for two years, 1997 and 1998 and then I bought it in 1999,” said Howdy.
Newmart Grocery Store is the final business that Howdy owns. “That’s all I got left, I had two stores and a restaurant,” explained Howdy. He has talked to a few prospective buyers and hopes that the store will find a new owner and stay open for the folks in Newell.
His retirement will bring to an end a life spent providing goods to locals. “My dad was always in it (grocery) so I started when I was six years old with sacking potatoes,” said Howdy. “Back then he bought potatoes from North Dakota—they were unwashed, and he bought them by the semi-load—it was my job to bag them up! I got paid in Walnut Crush candy bars!”
Howdy learned from the best. “57 years ago, my dad bought the inventory of a little grocery store that existed down here at the end of the street…And I remember I came over with him and he forgot an adding machine—but I’ve always been lucky to figure out things fast—so he and I wrote down everything that they bought and added it up. It was such a unique experience,” he said.
One of the things that Howdy won’t miss is the daily drive from his home near Whitewood to Newell. But he is fond of the town; he explained, “You know, I was a member at the country club here for 20 some years, I spent a lot of time over here. I know Newell pretty good and I have nothing but good memories of the town.”
Traveling is in the future for Howdy and his wife. “I’m 72 and I feel good yet, my wife and I have done some traveling, but we want to do more,” he said. “You know, we have a nice place and a lot of yard work—my wife likes doing it and she likes my help!”
On the prospect of having no formal job Howdy states, “Well, there will be a transitional period, when I wake up I’ll think about it. And then one day, when I wake up and I don’t think about it then I’ll be retired, it will be freeing!”
In the meantime, as Newmart prepares to close, a 25% customer appreciation discount is given to all customers upon check out (on everything but gallons of milk). “I think 25% off is fair. It pretty much gives me an average of a 3% margin—I need a little bit to pay for the lights,” explained Howdy. “I hope people come in and help me reduce the inventory for two reasons, one, I need to get rid of it. And two, the people that are interested buying want to start fresh, and I want to give them that opportunity. So they’ll be doing themselves a service if they come in and help me!”
The store will continue to stock perishables until closing to make sure anyone needing potatoes, carrots, lettuce and the like, will have access to it.
Finally, Howdy wants the community to know how much he appreciates them over the years. He says he is grateful for all of the good years he has had and all the great people he has gotten to know.
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