Frank Thomas Celebrates 80th Birthday
Frank Thomas recently celebrated his 80th birthday. He was given a surprise birthday party on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Brown Hutcherson Hall, located at 1065 36th St. S.E.
As pioneering businessmen, Frank Thomas and Wilson Tate were co-owners of Madison Food Town, which was located at 1300 Madison SE.
The two men brought to their enterprise, years of combined experience with the Kroger grocery chain and its Bi-Lo store. When Kroger sold the stores in the division where they were employed, the two men decided to venture out on their own.
Their purchase and partnership in 1982 made them the first Blacks to own a supermarket in this city, the largest black - owned and operated in the Midwest.
They later moved Madison Food Town slightly north, relocating the store to 1226 Madison SE as the anchor in Madison Square Shopping Center and renaming it Madison Food Center. Together, they received a Milo Brown Business Giant Award for their trailblazing achievements. were owners at that location for 20 years and sold the supermarket at their retirement. It is currently, Duthler Family Foods.
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