Helping add “convenience” to Charter Oak
Published 11:02 am Monday, November 9, 2026
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After the convenience store in Charter Oak closed about two months ago, Food and Flower on Main Street decided to add a new corner to their store to help community.
The Schumacher family had quite a few people ask if they would be interested in adding a convenience corner to their store.
Nick Schumacher, the owner of Food and Flower, said they decided to add the “convenience corner” in addition to in carrying the fresh local food.
“Our community members didn’t have a place to go buy a half gallon of milk or a Coca-Cola,” he said.
The Schumachers worked it out by upgrading a cooler and brought in some additional shelving to create the corner. He said they walked down the aisles of a convenience store in a town the size of Charter Oak to see what items they should carry.
Food and Flowers now carries a handful items including: Benadryl, ibuprofen, deodorant, Pillsbury flour, milk, buns, toilet paper, detergent, and drinks.
Schumacher said it has been fun being able to serve the community with this addition.
“We’re open until six most nights, at 6:29, somebody will skate in for half a gallon of milk to get their family through supper that night,” he shared. “It makes us feel good to offer that service to the community. With the storefront here, we have the ability to meet that need.”
He said he think the response from the community has been favorable.
“I think the community appreciates having an option where they can pick up some hot dog buns if they need it for supper that night,” he said. “And ideally while they’re here picking up a package of hot dog buns that come from the distributor, they can also grab a pound of bacon and some eggs for breakfast.”
Schumachers are still working out all the business logistics and profit margins for the convenience corner and noted the inventory will continue to be a work in progress as this new territory for them.
“We really need to figure out what sells and what the community is looking for,” he said.
Food and Flower is open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from Noon-6.30 p.m., Friday from Noon-7:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
