Longtime New Madrid County grocery stores have new owner, new offerings

Dave's Grocery was purchased by Don and Rebecca Fields in October 2020. The store is located at 600 State Highway D in Lilbourn.

Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

MATTHEWS, Mo. - New Madrid native Don Fields believes in investing in the local communities.

Over the years, Fields and his wife, Rebecca, have owned rental property, a used car lot and a restaurant. Most recently the Fields ventured into the grocery business with the purchase of two long-time New Madrid County grocery stores.

In October 2020, the Fields purchased Dave’s Grocery in Lilbourn. The next month they purchased Johnson’s Grocery in Matthews.

Owner Don Fields, left, and manager Chris Lyons stand inside the newly renovated Don's Grocery. The store is located at 117 West Main St. in Matthews, Mo.

Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

Johnson’s Grocery

“I bought the Matthews store in November but it took us three months to redo it. We opened Feb. 7,” Fields said.

The renovations have included new flooring and new shelving for wider aisles throughout the store. Old equipment was replaced, including the creation of an all-new kitchen area.

Butcher Gary Holifield custom slices steaks for a customer at Don's Grocery in Matthews, Mo. Johnson's Grocery was purchased by Don and Rebecca Fields and reopened in February following renovations.

Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

Also a hot bar was added. Here customers can make lunch and dinner selections and since Aug. 15 breakfast items became available as well. An area of the store was revamped with tables and chairs for those who choose to dine in rather than carry-out.

The Matthews store now carries Hunt Brothers Pizza. Also they offer a selection of prime ribeye steaks and prime strip steaks.

Fields noted the Matthews store was always well-known for its seasoned steaks and barbecue. The former owner, Kenny Johnson, even passed along those recipes.

“That is about the only thing that didn’t change,” Fields said with a laugh.

According to Fields, the Matthews store continues the tradition of barbecuing daily.

Also catering is available. For a recent family reunion, they provided “a lot of fried chicken” along with all the sides.

For the holidays, the catering business should be especially popular with area residents, he predicted.

Now renamed Don’s Grocery, the store is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Dave’s Grocery

The changes are less dramatic at their Lilbourn store.

According to Fields more than 80 percent of the staff remained following the purchase. With a smile he added, “Donna is back” referring to Donna McClarty, who formerly owned the business with her husband, Dave.

They have added a hot bar and deli for the Lilbourn customers. On the hot bar, there typically is a selection of prepared pork steaks and Boston butts. Fried chicken was recently featured, too.

The hours for the store were extended. Dave’s Grocery is now open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

Assisting the Fields in managing the two groceries is Chris Lyons, who has 20 years of experience in the grocery business.

Overall Fields said he is pleased with his newest venture into the grocery business in two New Madrid County locations. The response from the public, both longtime customers and those coming into the stores for the first time, has been great, he added.

“I like meeting all the different people. People come from Illinois, Charleston, Dexter along with local residents to shop here. It is amazing,” Fields said.

Both stores maintain a presence on Facebook, using it to post specials. They can be found by searching on Facebook for either Johnson’s Food Mart or Dave’s Grocery