Last week, we ran a small item announcing that Thomas Market was being sold to Broulim’s.  The item was a press release from Jerry Thomas, and the substance of the release has been confirmed.  We will be sitting down with Jerry in upcoming weeks to talk a bit about the transition, but in the meantime wanted to verify that yes, Thomas Market will be changing hands.  A history of Thomas Market was recently compiled by members of the Thomas family, which we present here: 

Thomas Market History

The Thomas family has been involved in the grocery business in Malad for over 75 years. Stan Thomas started the family business.  Stan was born and raised in Malad. During World War II, Stan worked in and managed Purity Grocery Stores in Ukiah, Eureka, Fort Bragg, and Willets, California. Before the war ended, Stan felt it necessary to return to Malad to help his father run the family farm in the Daniels area, as his brothers were away serving in the armed forces. After the war, Stan returned to California and entered into a partnership with a friend in Willets, California to own and operate a store they named United Food Center. Stan permanently moved back to Malad to find work and raise his family two years later. He quickly found work at the Bannock Street Grocery but learned that it was difficult to work for another person after being his own boss and manager.  At that time, six grocery stores were operating in Malad.  Despite the prevalence of other grocery stores in the area, he felt there was a need for another store on the south end of town, so he decided to build and open his own store. Stan and his wife, Erma, opened the Food Center on South Main Street in January 1949, while three feet of snow covered the ground.  The grand opening for the 1,500 square foot store was a huge success. The store had refrigerated produce, milk, and meat cases, and shelving Stan had built himself.  Food Center was one of the first grocery stores in Idaho to offer wrapped, self-service meat in the counter. In 1957, he built his home behind the store so that he could be closer to his family and business.  He and Erma raised their 8 kids in that home. The business grew and Stan opened a new 5,000 square foot store in January of 1961 to keep up with population growth and consumer demand. The new store was named Stan’s IGA. The original 1,500 square foot building was torn down to create a parking lot for Stan’s IGA, the original store was the newest building in Malad when it was demolished.  Stan had a reputation for hard work and excellent customer service.  He was also an active member of the community, serving on the Malad Chamber of Commerce, Oneida County Fair Board, and the Oneida County Hospital Board. Stan operated the business for 27 years until he passed away in August of 1977 from complications due to cancer.

Stan’s legacy was carried on by his son, Dennis Thomas, and his wife Brenda.  Dennis began working at the store as soon as he could wear a store apron.  After graduating from high school, attending Brigham Young University, and serving in the US Army in Vietnam, Dennis opened the Savings Center, a small grocery store in Montpelier, Idaho.  He and Brenda operated that business for two years. Dennis returned to Malad in 1974 to work with his dad and manage Stan’s IGA.  Dennis purchased Stan’s IGA from his mother, Erma, after his father’s passing in 1977.  That year, he joined Associated Food Stores, Inc. and changed the name to Thomas Foodtown.  Dennis expanded the store several times in the 1980s to address the demands of a larger product selection and population growth.  Dennis and Brenda made numerous improvements to the grocery store, which included installing new check stands with UPC scanners in the early 1990s and other expansions allowing for a loading dock, larger backroom area, and a cardboard compactor for recycling cardboard boxes.  Operating the growing business became too much work for one person. In 1991, Jerry Thomas, Dennis and Brenda’s oldest son, accepted a management position at Thomas Foodtown.  Jerry had recently graduated from Brigham Young University and was moving back to Malad with his family.  Jerry and Dennis worked side-by-side, operating the store from that point. 

In 1998, it was apparent that the business had outgrown itself.  Brenda, Dennis, and Jerry decided to construct a new 18,000 square foot grocery store on property south of the existing store.  The construction of the new store spurred yet another name change, Thomas Market.  Thomas Market held its ribbon cutting on April 21, 1999, and introduced Malad to many cutting-edge grocery store innovations, including a full-service hot/cold deli and fresh bakery.  It was the first business to feature automatic sliding doors in Malad. Thomas Market has been a cornerstone of the community since it opened. Jerry has continued to provide the excellent customer service the community has come to expect as he took over full operations of the store after Dennis passed away on November 12, 2013.

Thomas Market has deep-founded roots in the Malad community which were planted and cultivated by Stan Thomas and carried on by Dennis, Brenda, and Jerry Thomas. The residents of Oneida County have long supported and been able to depend on the service provided by the Thomas Family and the employees at Thomas Market.  In return, the Thomas family and their employees have enjoyed serving and being an integral part of the Malad community.