Walk into the Remke Market in Harrison, Ohio, on a Tuesday morning and you’ll notice something immediately. It isn’t the sterile, corporate hum of a massive supercenter. It feels different. Smaller. Maybe a little more human.
For the folks living in Harrison, this store at 10501 New Haven Road is more than just a place to grab a gallon of milk or a rotisserie chicken. It’s a survivor. In an era where big-box giants are swallowing up independent grocers like snacks, the Harrison Remke has managed to keep its doors open while many of its sister locations vanished into the history books.
But honestly, there is a lot of confusion about who actually owns this place and whether it’s even still "Remke" at all. If you’ve been following the local business news, you know the name on the receipt has changed hands more than a few times lately.
The SpartanNash Shift: Who Really Runs the Show?
Let’s clear up the biggest misconception first. If you think Remke is still a small, family-owned operation run by the Remke family out of Northern Kentucky, you’re about a decade behind the curve.
The transition happened in stages. First, the family sold the chain to Fresh Encounter Inc. back in 2017. Then, in a massive move that shook up the regional grocery landscape in late 2024, SpartanNash—a heavy hitter in the food distribution world—stepped in and acquired the whole Fresh Encounter portfolio.
So, technically? You’re shopping at a SpartanNash-owned store.
👉 See also: Sleeping With Your Neighbor: Why It Is More Complicated Than You Think
Does that matter to you? Maybe not. They kept the Remke Markets name. They kept the staff. But the "how" behind the scenes has changed. SpartanNash is a Fortune 400 company. They bring a different kind of scale, which is why you’ll see more of their "Our Family" private label brands on the shelves these days. It’s a trade-off: you lose that hyper-local family ownership, but you gain the stability of a massive supply chain that keeps the lights on when smaller shops might fold.
Why Harrison Stayed When Others Closed
It’s no secret that the Remke footprint has shrunk. We saw stores in Hebron, Delhi, and Anderson Township close up shop over the last several years. Even the old bigg's locations that Remke tried to rescue eventually mostly fizzled out or rebranded.
So why is Harrison still standing?
Basically, it comes down to geography and loyalty. Harrison is a unique bubble. It’s tucked right on the border of Ohio and Indiana, serving a crowd that doesn't always want to trek across the bridge or deal with the chaos of the massive Kroger down the street.
People here are loyal. They remember when this was a bigg's. They remember the transition in 2010. There’s a specific "neighborhood" vibe at the New Haven Road location that the bigger competitors just can't replicate. You can actually talk to the butcher. The aisles are wide enough to breathe. It’s just... easy.
✨ Don't miss: At Home French Manicure: Why Yours Looks Cheap and How to Fix It
The "bigg's" Ghost and the Local Vibe
If you’ve lived in Harrison long enough, you still call it bigg's. We all do it. That acquisition back in 2010 was a turning point for the brand. Remke took over several struggling bigg's locations, but the Harrison store was one of the few that actually "took."
What most people get wrong is thinking that Remke just slapped a new sign on a failing store. In reality, they had to strip away the "hypermarket" feel—the clothes, the electronics, the random general merchandise—and refocus on being a grocery store.
They doubled down on:
- The Meat Department: Still widely considered one of the best in the area for custom cuts.
- Local Produce: They still try to source from Ohio and Kentucky farms when the season allows.
- Speed: You can get in and out in fifteen minutes. Try doing that at a Supercenter on a Saturday.
Facing the New Competition
The landscape in Harrison is changing, though. Fast.
As of early 2026, the buzz is all about the new Target development coming to Harrison Avenue and the arrival of "DG Market" concepts nearby. The town is growing. With growth comes the "big guys."
🔗 Read more: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Menu: Why You’re Probably Ordering Wrong
Some shoppers worry that the corporate backing of SpartanNash might eventually lead to the Harrison store losing its identity. Will it just become another generic "Our Family" outlet? It's a valid concern. However, SpartanNash CEO Tony Sarsam has been pretty vocal about maintaining the "people-first" culture of these acquired regional banners. They know that if they turn Remke into a generic box, they lose the very reason people shop there.
Is It More Expensive? The Honest Truth
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the price tag.
If you do a 1:1 price comparison with a budget-first retailer, Remke usually comes out a few cents higher on name-brand pantry staples. That’s just the reality of not being Walmart.
But you’ve got to look at the "hidden" value. Their rewards program—often linked to fuel perks—can actually bridge that gap if you’re a regular. Plus, they run aggressive "Case Sales" and meat specials that the locals flock to. If you shop the circular, you win. If you walk in and buy everything at eye level, you might feel the pinch a bit more than you would elsewhere.
What You Should Do Next
If you haven’t been to the Harrison Remke in a while, it’s worth a "re-visit" to see how the SpartanNash integration is settling in. The store is still open daily from 6 am to 11 pm, which is a lifesaver for early birds and late-shift workers.
Next steps for your next trip:
- Check the Weekly Ad: Don’t just wing it. Their digital coupons have become much more robust since the 2024 buyout.
- Visit the Butcher Counter: Ask for a specific cut. They actually have people there who know how to use a knife, which is becoming a rarity.
- Link Your Rewards: Make sure your phone number is updated at the kiosk to ensure you’re actually getting the fuel points. They expire, and leaving that money on the table is just silly.
The Remke in Harrison is a piece of local history that’s still writing its next chapter. It’s not the same store your parents shopped at in the 90s, but in a world of self-checkout robots and 200,000-square-foot warehouses, it’s a refreshingly manageable place to buy your dinner.