Archer’s Market in Norris changing hands
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Pam Higdon, sister of Archer’s Market owner Wayne Chaniott, stands with the store’s new general manager, Charlie Murphy, at the checkout station of the store in Norris. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Wayne Chaniott, who has owned Archer’s Market in Norris for the past 40 years, is retiring and selling the business. - G. Chambers Williams III
Archer’s Market, a Norris staple for decades, will soon have a new owner, but he plans to keep the store the same as it is now, including its regionally popular fresh meat department.
The sale is pending approval of a beer permit from the city of Norris in the name of the new owner, Hitesh Govindlal Patel. The Norris Beer Board will meet at 5 p.m. tomorrow (March 2) to consider the application.
Wayne Chaniott, who has owned the store for the past 40 years, has decided to retire, said his sister, Pam Higdon, who has been helping him in the store as he continues fighting cancer, Higdon said Tuesday.
She said her brother is currently a resident at Meadow View Senior Assisted Living in Norris.
Norris native Charlie Murphy will be the store’s new general manager. Murphy said his work history includes stints as a store manager for Dollar General and Dollar Tree, and as a merchandising manager for Lowe’s Home Improvement.
“I’ve been involved with this family (the Chaniotts) my whole life,” he said Tuesday morning at the store.
Most of the store’s staff also will remain, including cashier Stacey Walker, who has been with Archer’s for 10 years, she said.
Higdon said that longtime meat manager Phillip Farmer is coming back from medical leave to continue running the meat department.
Chaniott bought Archer’s 40 years ago from the founder, George Archer. The store is in the Norris Town Center complex at 27 W. Norris Rd.
The entire Town Center property, which also includes the Norris Post Office, was purchased recently by Starpoint Development, LLC., which is owned by lawyer Ameesh Kherani and his brother, Eddie.
Ameesh Kherani has a law office on Andersonville Highway in the same building as the Appalachia Family Dentistry practice of his wife, Dr. Sonia Kherani. He also has offices in Knoxville and Jacksboro.
Starpoint LLC and the Kheranis have no connection with the new Archer’s owners, other than leasing the building to them, Higdon said.