Business of the Month

Chamber Business of the Month

Please help us in welcoming Red Bud Country Mart Pharmacy as the newest business in Red Bud and Septembers business of the month!

They are officially open inside and open inside!Current hours are:

Monday – Friday 9 am to 6 pm

Saturday 9 am to 1 pm.

They offer in-store and drive thru prescription services, home delivery two days a week, vaccinations, gifts, decor, and more.

You can visit them at 1375 S Main Street and follow along all month as we learn more about this new business!

Did you know Red Bud Country Martoffers FREE prescription delivery two days a week?

Call in your prescription and have it delivered to your residence on Mondays or Thursdays!

They can also help with your pill planner. This helps to make sure you or your loved ones are taking the correct medications and on time.

Here are a couple pictures of the decor they offer inside as well as fresh flowers.

Chamber Business of the Month

Please congratulate Morrison Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical for being the August business of the month! Morrison Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical They first opened for business in 1990 and in 2022 added electrical services to their business. They serve a 60 mile radius from their main office located in Caseyville. Stay tuned in this month as we learn more about their business and the services they provide! Meanwhile visit them at morrisonplumbing.com.

Heating : new furnace install, service/repair, boilers and heat pumps

Cooling : mini split installs, service/repair, new install and smart thermostats

Plumbing : gas lines, water filtration, plumbing install and repair

Electrical : smoke/CO detector installs, ceiling fan installs, electrical repair and install

Check out their extensive website at morrisonplumbing.com or contact local Red Bud resident Chuck Woosly for more info!

Chuck Woosley

HVAC Operations Manager

(618) 217-0903

www.callmorrison.com

8124B Bunkum Rd., Caseyville, IL, 62232

Chamber Business of the Month

Please help us welcome The Mill as our July business of the month!! The Mill first opened July 5th, 2019 had they have quickly become known for their extensive food menu, wine, specialty drinks and of all things the original belt driven fans! These awesome ceiling fans date back to 1902! Stick with us all month as we learn more about what The Mill has to offer. Meanwhile you can check out their food menu below (the kitchen is open all day and night) and they will be kicking off the Muskets Athletic Club Glenn Phegley Memorial Jeep Run Saturday July 8th at 11:00. Stop in between 11:00-12:00 to register!

When the Kruse’s purchased the building in April of 2019 they immediately proceeded to update the building and property. They renovated the building by adding a kitchen, handicap access entry and a large outside patio. These updates have provided the ideal spot to gather for food and drinks! The Mill

Ever been apart of a wine club? Free membership, no monthly dues and cancel anytime with The Mill wine club!!! Need more perks? They have you covered as you will receive a 10% discount and access to exclusive wines!

Chamber Business of the Month

Please help us welcome Ed Morse Automotive Group as the Red Bud Chamber business of the month! Follow along this month to learn more about our local dealerships, the history of Weir’s and about Ed Morse Automotive Group. What are some of your fondest memories of our local dealership?

The Morse family bought into their first dealership in 1961, Cecil Holland Ford in Miami, which soon became Ed Morse Ford. Over the next 50 years, Ed and his son, Ted, added dozens of additional dealerships and realigned their market areas throughout the state of Florida and now they currently have dealerships in 6 States. This keen business sense cemented the Ed Morse prominence as one of the largest family-owned automotive dealer groups in the country. Since taking over Weir, Ed Morse has continued to be an asset in Red Bud and the surrounding communities. The transition from Weir to Ed Morse went off without a hitch. You still see the same faces and receive the fantastic service you became a custom to over the years. Ed Morse is motivated to keep that same success that Weir had and keep building their brand throughout the country. One of the reasons Weir was an appealing dealer to purchase was because of the success they had all these years. Another appealing asset that Weir had and probably what they were best known for outside of the local community is their parts department.

We sat down with Brad Roy to chat about his history with the company formally known as Weir and now known as Ed Morse Automotive Group. Brad officially became a full time employee in 1998 but had been working there with his dad since he was a young man cleaning cars, cleaning the shop and one of his favorite memories was refilling the soda machine. He would walk over to the former Country Side, buy some soda and wheel it back to the dealership to re-stock the machine. Brad is now the sales manager at the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC store so we asked Brad; what’s the biggest change in the car business over the years? “Internet” The internet has changed the industry in many ways. Customers come in more knowledgeable about the vehicle they want to purchase as they have done research. Customers can get online and find vehicles all over the country and they are willing to travel to get that perfect vehicle. The internet has streamlined the process of selling a vehicle overall. The second thing he mentioned is the technology has changed so much in the vehicles. They come with so many more features including safety and creature comforts.

Since 1975 Norm Roy and the team at Weir were a critical asset to our community. We want to thank Ed Morse Automotive Group for continuing to fill that important roll and for being our chamber business of the month! Check out https://www.edmorse.com to learn more and find great deals on your next vehicle!

Chamber Business of the Month

Kicking our May’s chamber business of the month by introducing everyone to Discovery Youth Center! They opened in 2005 and are still operating under the current ownership. At this time they employ 22 staff members which include teachers and support staff. They currently provide a safe, learning environment for 100 kids with a max capacity of 150. Stayed tuned all month while we learn more about the day care & learning center!

When we spoke with Discovery Youth Center we asked how did Covid affect their business? During Covid times they never laid off any staff! They were able to meet the states requirements and remain open which allowed essential workers to drop off their kids. Grant money and PPE loans helped fill the gaps to keep staff employed. In 2022 they updated the playground using money gained from a back to business state grant. The new playground is more modern and it has improved safety features. Over the years they have received benches donated by Ultra Site.

Chamber Business of the Month

Red Bud Veterinary Service has been selected as the April chamber business of the month. What a perfect time to select them as it’s pet first aid awareness month! In 2019 Dr. Ryan Jacob and Dr. Shannon Melliere purchased the clinic from Dr. Church who was the long time owner of the practice. Dr. Shannon currently operates as a silent partner as she also owns and operates an office in Waterloo. With Dr. Ryan being the main doctor at the practice they recently hired Dr. Fuller to help treat furry patients.

They primarily work with small animals, and occasionally get some exotic animals in the clinic. The clinic does offer “urgent care” situations in the event your animal becomes ill or injured. Otherwise, they mainly operate based on scheduled visits. Their main focus is on regular checkups, preventative care, dermatology and Dr. Ryan specializes in orthopedic services. Their beliefs are to have great communication with their clients, keep them up to date with the condition of their animal, keep the animals comfortable and happy! Here is a recent post they shared on how to help your animals during storms. ⛈ Does your dog have a storm or other noise phobia? We can help with that. If you need something to help your pet get through these stressful situations, give us a call to find out what we can do to help!

Another fantastic service that Red Bud Veterinary provides is outside of Red Bud. They provide clinical services to shelters and animal control departments throughout the metro east. They typically will pickup the animal that needs help, bring them back to the Red Bud clinic and preform the services required. By doing this the animal can then be put up for adoption and essentially given a second life!

Chamber Business of the Month

Our March “Chamber Business of the Month” is Hi-Way Motors!

Hi-Way is a third generation, locally owned, car dealership & service shop. Hi-Way has been in business since 1954! Now owned and operated by Jared Horrell. Jared & his team of 9 are a staple in the community & offer great service to all.

When sitting down with Jared and getting a better understanding of his business, what really jumped off the page to us was the tenured staff. Not only has Jared been with Hi-Way since 2008, but the nucleus of his team has been together for many years. One being his Service Manager Todd & sales manager Dustin, who’s both been with him since 2016. While many businesses are struggling to attract and retain employees, Jared has created an enjoyable culture that exceeds expectations.

We asked Jared many questions, one being “why do people buy from Hi-Way?”. In short, Jared said that people buy from them because they are car dealers, not salesmen. There process is very informal. He & his staff are knowledgeable and try and give his customers enjoyable experiences. One of his favorite things to hear once the purchasing process is done from a customer is “is that it?” He wants the customer experience from start to finish to be painless and enjoyable.

To continue our highlight of Hi Way Motors, we wanted to feature more about what they do & how they do it. They aren’t your typical used car delearship. All throughout the year, they have not only newer vehicles, but also premium versions of those vehicles. You’ll see plenty of Rough Country accessories on their vehicles plus brand new wheels and tires. Regardless of year, make, or model, they all have two things in common: they all go through the mandatory 131 point inspection in shop, and they are all CLEAN! Jared & the team take a lot of pride in both.

When it comes to their mechanic shop, they spend a lot of time tuning up their own vehicles, but they also offer all their services to the community. So when you’re in need of vehicle repairs or maintenance, please keep Hi Way in mind.

Lastly, Jared was happy to explain how business has changed for him over the last few years. Years ago, listings on Craigslist were a huge source of marketing. Craigslist basically got replaced by auto trader. And believe it or not, Facebook marketplace has become a popular spot to drive business!

As we know, Hi-Way is a third generation business that represents Red Bud in all the best ways. They treat every person who walks on the lot as family. They follow through with what they promise. They invest in their staff & business to find ways to keep evolving. They really are the type of business that makes our Town great.

So thank you to Jared, his family, and the Team at Hi-Way for allowing us to peel back the curtain and better understand who you are.

Chamber Business of the Month

Our first Business of the Month is none other than IGA!

First things first- What’s IGA stand for? Independent Grocers Alliance!
The newest ownership has owned the business for 27 years and are happy to serve the community.

One of the first questions we asked Bryon was “what do you love about the community of Red Bud?” In summary, Byron talked about all the families coming in throughout the years & seeing kids grow up and become adults and still shopping at IGA. He and the rest of the seasoned staff have enjoyed watching the community continuously support their business.

In our last post, we asked “what’s the biggest seller” , and Milk was the correct answer!

In our conversation with Byron, we asked about what struggles they are facing with all of the rapid changes, and he said supply chains issues were the biggest problem. Luckily for them, staffing has been great. But the supply issues in regards to inventory is the biggest hiccup. So if you go to IGA and they are missing Brooks Chili Beans, it’s not from a lack of effort from the staff. They just can’t get them! Byron mentioned that product in particular was tough to find. But all in all, it’s hard for them to predict what will be available & what won’t, but he appcreaties the community being so patient with them.

On another note- we asked Byron “what changes in the industry over the years were most surprising?”. He answered with- The amount of Products we get over the years have been crazy. Before they had the regular groceries, and over the years they have expanded the line of products. One thing in particular that was surprising to Byron was bottled water. He remember when it first hit the shelves and he thought to himself, no way people will buy this stuff. As we all know, it’s now become a household fixture.

Spotlight on a Business

Farm Credit Illinois is the business featured this month in the Spotlight on Business, sponsored by the Red Bud Chamber of Commerce.

For 100 years, they have supported rural communities, farm families and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Farm Credit was established when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Farm Loan Act on July 17, 1916. Since then, the national network of Farm Credit cooperatives has provided American farm families with the financing they need to start, sustain and grow their agribusinesses. Today, Farm Credit’s system has 74 farmer owned association cooperatives which provide $235 billion in loans, leases and related services. This is more than one-third of the credit needed by U.S. agriculture.

Farm Credit Illinois is a farmer owned and directed agricultural lending cooperative serving 8,500 farm families, agribusinesses and rural landowners in the southern 60 counties of Illinois with competitive and flexible financing and risk management expertise. The association manages a $4 billion loan portfolio, sells 1.4 million acres of crop insurance coverage and employes 210 staff based in the Mahomet central office and 14 regional office locations.

Farm Credit’s unwavering commitment to Illinois agriculture and rural communities extends beyond providing financial services. From encouraging the next generation of farmers to helping educate consumers about the importance of agriculture, Farm Credit helps maintain healthy rural communities, a vibrant agriculture industry and sustainable family farm businesses which pass from generation to generation.

Farm Credit Illinois strives to return a portion of its net earnings to the rural marketplace its team members serve. These gifts are invested in youth development, ag-vocacy, community charities and outreach programs. In 2004, Farm Credit began offering agriculture scholarships to high school seniors pursing an agricultural career. Nearly $300,000 has been awarded to 275 students throughout southern and central Illinois since the program’s start. Farm Credit also provides community improvement grants to 4-H clubs and FFA chapters implementing projects that provide visible and tangible value in their communities, making them better places to live. Since 2008, more than $60,000 of grant funding has been awarded.

Team members at Farm Credit are committed to the communities in which they live, work and serve and have a goal of contributing 20,000 cumulative volunteer service hours by 2025. Service hours include hours delivered towards youth and young farmer development, ag-vocacy and community service. These volunteer efforts contribute to a vibrant agriculture industry and healthy rural communities.

Each year during harvest time and in conjunction with National Farm Safety and Health Week, Farm Credit also provides meals in the field to local farm families as a way of promoting safety.
The Red Bud Farm Credit branch is located at 111 Kennedy Drive and has seven employees. They are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Their phone number is 618-282-6673. For more information about Farm Credit Illinois, visit their website at www.farmcreditIL.com.

Spotlight on a Business

Mohr Plumbing and Heating is featured as this month’s Spotlight on a Business sponsored by the Red Bud Chamber of Commerce. The business is most likely one of the oldest in Red Bud as it celebrates 75 years this month.

Leonard Mohr established Mohr Plumbing and Heating in 1941. Using a wheelbarrow for hauling the basic hand tools needed to apply his trade, he would hustle off to the various plumbing tasks throughout the small town of Red Bud. In order to keep up with his growing business, he soon purchased a 1929 Chevy Coupe which he converted into a truck.

In 1946, Leonard’s son, Vic, returned from the Navy and brought his acquired knowledge to the business. Leonard retired in 1972 and he and his wife Dora turned the business over to their son and daughter-in-law, Vic and Trudie Mohr. Mohr Plumbing and Heating was changed to Red Bud Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, and Electrical Contractors, Inc. (Red Bud P.H.C. & E., Inc.) Vic’s son Vic Jr. started with the business in 1973. He attended MacMurray College and has BA degrees in Biology and Chemistry. He has attended school for refrigeration, heating, and air conditioning and belongs to the American Chemical Society, and is a licensed plumber in the state of Illinois.

In 1975, Helen, Vic Jr’s wife, joined the business and assumed bookkeeping responsibilities. Red Bud P.H.C. & E. Contractors, Inc, became the local dealer for Kinetico Water Conditioning in 1986. After attending Kinetico’s Sales and Service Schools, Helen is now in charge of Kinetico sales and service. In 1987 the company added the assumed name of Mohr Softwater for the water conditioning portion of the business.

In 1993, Vic Jr. and Helen purchased the business from Vic Sr. and continue to service and sell quality plumbing, heating, air conditioning and water treatment equipment. Some of the lines of products that are sold are recognized brand names like Carrier heating and cooling equipment, American Standard fixtures, Delta Faucets, Kinetico Water softeners, treatment equipment and reverse osmosis drinking systems.

Due to a fire in 2005 the business moved to its current location at 110 Kennedy Drive.

Contact Mohr Plumbing at 282-2108 or visit the website at mohrplumbingandheating.com. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8-4:30 and by appointment evenings and Saturdays.

Vic and Helen appreciate all of the customers for their support over the past several years.