New owners of Meriden station plan changes, hot food
Davis Publications
Monte Moore stands with his son, Matthew, in the Meriden gas station they now call their own. What was originally ZZzzz’s Convenience Store, is now the Meriden Tiger Den owned by the Moore family who live between Winchester and McLouth. The station will be receiving a facelift once spring rolls around as well as other small changes that the Moore family hopes will make their new business thrive.
Story and photo by Holly Davis
The Meriden gas station, ZZzzz’s Convenience Store, is already undergoing changes including a new name and new owners. Starting January 3, Monte Moore and family reopened the station under the name, Meriden Tiger Den. The Moore family is eager to see what their new family business has in store.
Changes for the gas station and convenience store will be visible come this spring, Monte says. They include an overall expansion, new bathrooms, a small sitting area, a refresh of inventory, and a pay-at-the-pump option when it comes to filling the gas tank. Monte says that serving hot, prepared food will also give those passing through Meriden another option for food.
Monte previously worked at an accounting firm in Kansas City for 17 years and worked with UPS for 11 years before that. After working with big companies for so long, he said he was ready to be his own boss. After looking at different convenience stores and stations, he decided that the Meriden station would be a perfect place to start fresh.
“I think it has good potential with the location it’s at,” he said. “It’s also something I thought I’d be good at.”
Monte has a business and accounting degree which he hopes will help him ease into the transition of becoming a business owner.
“Anything that’s a new challenge is fun and exciting,” he said.
Previous owners, Jim and Debbie Zwygart, owned the gas station for 28 years. Monte says they are very supportive and he appreciates their help whether it be through training or just stopping by to check on how things are going.
Monte says that the best part of owning the station is having the opportunity to meet new people while making connections with the locals who stop in often, whether it be to get gas or to stop in for morning coffee.
He hopes that the station will do well financially as he is helping his children pay for college tuition. He also stressed that this will be a family-run business and he is thankful that he has a lot of support from his wife and kids.
The Moore family lives in a rural area between Winchester and McLouth. Monte’s wife, Shawna, is employed at Keystone Learning Services out of Ozawkie. Their oldest daughter, Amanda Aragon, 26, lives in Seattle, Wash., with her husband, Irving, and daughter, Ava, 1. Their other two children are Matthew, 23, and Amy, 20. All of the kids graduated from Jefferson County North High School.
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http://www.jeffcountynews.com/2014/01/new-owners-of-meriden-station-plan-changes-hot-food/
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