Archer’s Food Center has new management, promises stock upgrades

August 9, 2023 by G. Chambers Williams III

Yet another management shakeup has affected Archer’s Food Center in the Norris Town Square, with the new people now in charge promising to upgrade and refresh the store’s stock, and keep prices competitive with area supermarkets.

Mark Thomas, who was the store’s meat manager until he was let go about three weeks ago by the former general manager, has returned to the store to replace the manager who fired him, he said last week.

Also part of the new management staff is Kimberly Smith, assistant general manager, who said she also was fired by the previous manager, but rehired shortly thereafter when Thomas took over.

Norris native Charlie Murphy, who took over as general manager in early March when a new owner bought Archer’s, no longer works at the store. He could not be reached for comment about why he left the store.

Hitesh “Harry” Patel bought the store in early March from longtime owner Wayne Chaniott, who has since died. Chaniott’s sister, Pam Higdon, who was running the store for her brother at the time of the sale, said he was then in a nursing home fighting cancer.

Patel, who Thomas said still owns Archer’s, also could not be reached for comment about the management changes.

Smith said she and Thomas are “starting to get the store back up to par,” after its stock had dwindled and not been replaced in a timely manner.

“We want to stay open,” she said. “I just ask people to be patient with us. We’re getting there, but it will take some time.”

She said the store has a staff of 13 people now, and she is optimistic about its future. Chaniott, who bought an already operating store, had run Archer’s for the past 40 years before Patel bought it.

“We have such an amazing crew right now,” Smith said. “It’s wonderful to have good young people who care about their jobs.”

Archer’s is open Sundays through Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Chaniott bought Archer’s from the founder, George Archer. The store is at 27 W. Norris Rd.

The entire Town Center property, which also includes the Norris Post Office, was purchased earlier this year 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 owner, other than leasing the building to them.