King Brothers celebrates 65 years

King Brothers Supermarket employees assist a customer with her groceries in the Draffenville location.
King Brothers Supermarket employees assist a customer with her groceries in the Draffenville location.

DRAFFENVILLE – In a time when big retailers reign, old-fashioned customer service has helped locally-owned King Brothers Supermarket stand out. King Brothers, with locations in Benton and Draffenville, celebrates its 65 anniversary this year.

Brothers Derril and Hyman King founded a grocery store at 12th and Poplar streets in Benton in February 1950 under the brand U’Tote ‘Em. When the brand went out of business in 1963, the store was given its current moniker.

The original store was full-service; customers could walk up to the counter, ask for the items they wanted, and have employees retrieve them. The Benton store was moved to its current location in 1977.

Derril bought out Hyman in the 1970s and retired in the mid 1980s, when his two sons, Ted and Ronnie, took over.

Even 65 years later, the small, family-owned business continues to thrive on the customer service that was such a priority in the very beginning.