Raising five children after losing her husband would have been difficult enough. But in 1925, one determined widow in Ohio opened a small grocery store to support her family, beginning a business that would survive for an entire century.
Margaret Riesbeck started with a modest corner shop in Woodsfield. By 1932, the business had expanded to a larger location, laying the foundation for a regional grocery chain that would eventually serve communities across two states.
I can’t imagine the responsibility she carried while raising five children and building a business during an era when opportunities for women were far more limited. Her family’s story is one of persistence and generational commitment.
Today, the company is employee-owned, with the fourth generation of the founding family still involved. Its centennial in 2025 marked a remarkable legacy that began with one mother’s determination to provide for her children.
A Mom Of Five Started Something Nobody Could Have Predicted
Raising five children alone would fill anyone’s schedule. Margaret Riesbeck opened a small grocery store in Woodsfield in 1925 to support her five children after losing her husband.
Riesbeck’s Food Markets traces its roots back to the early 1920s in eastern Ohio. The company celebrated its 100th anniversary on March 14, 2025, exactly a century after Margaret Riesbeck opened her first store.
Back then, groceries looked very different. Stores were small, shelves were stocked by hand, and customers often knew the owner by name.
That personal touch became the foundation of the whole operation. A family name on the sign meant a family reputation was on the line every day.
Her children grew up around the business. Over the years, later generations of the family kept it running and growing.
Today the chain has stores spread across eastern Ohio and nearby West Virginia. The business is employee-owned, with the fourth generation of the Riesbeck family still involved in its operations and leadership.
I believe that kind of staying power doesn’t happen by luck. It takes stubborn hard work, smart choices, and a lot of early mornings.
Think about the pressure she faced. Supporting five children while building a grocery business would have required extraordinary determination, especially during the economic uncertainty of that era.
So the next time someone grumbles about a quick grocery run, remember this story. One determined mom turned a small shop into a regional name that outlasted nearly everyone.
The Woodsfield Store Keeps That Family Story Going Today
Small towns notice when the grocery store has the same name it had decades ago. In Woodsfield, that name is Riesbeck’s Food Market.
Woodsfield is the county seat of Monroe County, Ohio. It sits in the rolling hills of the state’s southeastern corner, not far from the Ohio River.
The local Riesbeck’s is a full supermarket, not a corner shop. It carries the everyday staples families depend on week after week.
For a town this size, having a full grocery store close by matters a lot. Bigger supermarkets in the region can mean a long drive on winding roads.
That makes this store a true anchor for the community. It’s where weekly shopping lists get crossed off and last-minute dinner fixes get solved.
The store belongs to a chain, but it isn’t a faceless one. The same family business that started with a widow and her kids still runs the show.
I like that a century-old story can show up in such a practical place. You don’t need a museum to see history when it’s sitting in a shopping cart.
The Woodsfield supermarket represents another chapter in a family grocery business that has served communities across the region for generations. Not bad for an ordinary Tuesday errand.
Honestly, that’s the kind of legacy worth knowing about before you even park the car.
Early Birds And Night Owls Both Win Here
Six in the morning to ten at night. Those are the hours, and they don’t change from Monday through Sunday.
That schedule is a big deal in a rural area. Farm schedules, early work shifts, and late school events don’t always line up with typical store hours.
Need coffee creamer before sunrise? The doors are already open by 6 AM.
Forgot the milk after a ballgame? You’ve still got until 10 PM to fix that problem.
Sunday hours match the rest of the week too. That’s handy for families planning big after-church meals or weekend cookouts.
Here’s a smart shopping tip for any grocery store. Early mornings usually mean freshly stocked shelves and calmer aisles for a quick, focused trip.
Evening runs work well for grabbing dinner basics on the way home. Just keep an eye on the clock if your list is long.
I believe consistent hours are an underrated kindness. Nobody has to check a calendar or guess whether a holiday weekend changed things.
Of course, holiday hours at any store can vary. A quick check before major holidays saves a wasted trip down the hill.
Sixteen hours a day, seven days a week. Margaret Riesbeck might have appreciated the commitment to serving customers that continues a century after her first store opened.
Your Sweet Tooth Has Found Its Aisle
Cake emergencies happen to everyone. A birthday sneaks up, a graduation party grows, and suddenly dessert becomes urgent.
Riesbeck’s Food Market in Woodsfield has a bakery department ready for those moments. It’s a classic grocery bakery with sweets and breads in one spot.
Custom cakes are part of the deal there. Families can order decorated cakes for birthdays, graduations, and other celebrations.
My best advice for any custom order is simple. Order early, confirm your pickup day, and double-check details a day before the party.
That little phone call can save a lot of stress. Bakery teams juggle many orders, especially during busy graduation season.
Bring a clear picture of the design you want. A photo makes it much easier for decorators to match your idea.
Not planning a party? The bakery case still deserves a slow walk past it.
Grabbing a treat for the drive home feels like a small reward for finishing the shopping list. Nobody needs to know how many cookies made it into the car.
I can’t imagine a 100-year grocery story without a bakery somewhere in it. Fresh bread and sweet treats have been part of neighborhood grocers forever.
It’s comforting that this tradition is still alive in a small Ohio town.
Lunch Plans Can Start At The Deli Counter
Sliced turkey, cheese, and a fresh roll make one of the easiest lunches on earth. The deli is where that plan begins.
Riesbeck’s in Woodsfield has a deli department for meats and cheeses sliced to order. It’s handy for packed lunches, party trays, or quick weeknight sandwiches.
Ordering by the pound gives you control. Grab exactly what you need for the week instead of a huge package that goes stale.
Here’s a helpful trick. Ask for a sample slice when you’re trying something new, if the counter offers it.
Thin slices stretch farther on sandwiches. Thicker cuts work better for snacking or building a cracker plate.
Deli departments in grocery stores often stock ready-to-eat items too. Those are perfect for busy families or road-tripping visitors.
Visiting relatives or heading to a cabin in the hills? A deli stop can cover several meals without much cooking.
I like how a deli counter feels more personal than a packaged aisle. Somebody is actually slicing your food and handing it across the glass.
That fits nicely with a business that started as one woman’s small shop. Personal service was the whole idea back then.
Just be warned. Walking past the deli hungry can turn a quick errand into a full picnic.
Green Stuff Gets Its Moment In The Spotlight
Apples, peppers, lettuce, and bananas don’t usually get applause. Still, a good produce section can make or break a grocery store.
At Riesbeck’s Food Market, fresh produce is one of the main departments. It’s the colorful first stop for plenty of shopping trips.
A few simple habits make produce shopping smarter anywhere. Pick firm fruit for later in the week and ripe fruit for right now.
Bananas with a little green last longer on the counter. Fully yellow ones are ready for lunchboxes today.
Leafy greens should look crisp, not droopy. Give the bag a gentle check before tossing it in the cart.
Buying in season usually means better flavor. Summer peaches and fall apples tend to taste their best at their peak time.
Fresh-cut fruit is a time saver for busy days. Grocery stores often package melon and fruit cups for quick snacks.
I believe a strong produce section says a lot about a store’s standards. Fresh food needs constant care, rotation, and attention.
That kind of steady work fits a family business that’s lasted a hundred years. Corners don’t get cut when your name is on the building.
So grab something green. Your future self, staring into the fridge, will be grateful.
Finding The Place Is Easier Than Choosing Dinner
Directions here are refreshingly simple. Riesbeck’s Food Market sits at 324 Lewisville Rd, Woodsfield, OH 43793.
Lewisville Road is a main route for local drivers. That makes the store easy to reach for both residents and folks passing through.
Woodsfield is the seat of Monroe County. Visitors often come for the countryside, the Ohio River, and nearby outdoor spots.
That means this store can be a key supply stop. Stocking up here before heading to a cabin or campsite just makes sense.
A smart tip for rural trips is to bring a cooler. Cold items stay fresh on winding roads and longer drives home.
Make a list before you leave home too. Forgetting one thing in the countryside can mean a long trip back.
Families visiting relatives in the area may know this route well. For some folks, a stop at this store is part of coming home.
I like how one address can mean such different things to different people. For one person, it’s a routine errand, and for another, it’s a nostalgic tradition.
Either way, it’s a dependable stop on a quiet Ohio road. That reliability is something the founder would recognize right away.
A Hundred Years Later, The Lesson Still Lands
Grocery stores come and go all the time. A family-owned chain lasting a full century is genuinely unusual.
Riesbeck’s Food Markets survived changes that wiped out countless competitors. Supermarkets got bigger, shopping habits shifted, and national chains spread everywhere.
Through it all, the business stayed rooted in eastern Ohio and nearby communities. It never lost its family identity.
The Woodsfield store is one living piece of that long story. Every open door at 6 AM continues something that started generations ago.
Behind the familiar grocery aisles is a story of determination, hard work, and a business that has served local communities for generations. Hard work, steady service, and caring about neighbors can outlast flashy trends.
I believe stories like this matter for kids especially. They show how one determined person can change a family’s future.
Margaret Riesbeck was raising five children after losing her husband when she opened the small grocery store that would become a regional chain.
Her choice ended up feeding whole towns for a hundred years. That’s a pretty amazing ripple effect from one small shop.
So next time you’re near Woodsfield, a grocery stop can be more than a chore. It’s a chance to support a legacy built one customer at a time.
Not bad for a place that sells milk and eggs.
