Serving Charleston With Affordable Groceries and Community Care
Local entrepreneurs Brian and Becky Furry have set a goal of providing both excellent customer service and meaningful community service through their new business, Charleston Discount Grocery.
The couple opened the store at 1500 Madison Ave. on the northeast side of Charleston, offering residents access to affordable grocery options in a welcoming, community-focused setting. Store hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Brian Furry carefully organizes inventory at Charleston Discount Grocery, ensuring customers find quality products at unbeatable prices.
A Vision Born From Experience
Becky Furry said she and her husband have long enjoyed bargain hunting for brand-name groceries at salvage stores in Mattoon and rural Arcola. That experience inspired them to bring similar low-cost grocery options directly to Charleston, particularly for residents without reliable transportation.
"I said, 'We need something here,'" Becky Furry recalled.
With a background in small business, Becky currently works as a dog groomer and previously operated a children's clothing store, Baby's Nest, in Charleston.
How Charleston Discount Grocery Works
As a discount grocery retailer, Charleston Discount Grocery carefully selects products from its suppliers, focusing on items with best-by dates well into the future.
"Most of our products are end-date good for quite some time," Becky Furry said.
Brian Furry, who has spent his career in the beauty supply industry, noted that the store does not currently carry refrigerated or frozen foods or fresh bread. Instead, the focus is on a wide variety of nonperishable grocery items, including:
- Peanut butter
- Tuna
- Dried pasta and rice
- Canned fruits and vegetables
- A wide assortment of snacks
Many items are sold individually, allowing customers to try products before purchasing larger quantities.
"We sell them individually so customers can try them," Brian Furry said. "Then they can come back and buy the case if they like them."
Becky Furry provides excellent customer service at the register, embodying the store's commitment to community care and customer satisfaction.
Family-Friendly, Budget-Friendly Ideas
The store's sales floor features recipes created by the couple's son, Brent Furry, a trained chef. These recipes use ingredients stocked in the store and are designed to be both family-friendly and budget-conscious.
"He is always putting out recipes that are family-friendly and pocketbook-friendly," Brian Furry said.
Becky added that helping families stretch their food budgets is a central part of the store's mission.
Looking Ahead
Brian Furry said the store is in the process of setting up an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system to serve customers who receive federal assistance. That effort was temporarily delayed due to a recent government shutdown.
Brian and Becky Furry stand proudly in their store, surrounded by the affordable groceries they've carefully curated for the Charleston community.
Giving Back to the Community
Beyond operating the store, the Furry family is deeply involved in supporting the Charleston community. Becky Furry said they regularly share groceries with both the Charleston Area Churches Food Pantry and the Standing Stone & Carpenters Table Food Pantry.
The couple has also hosted a winter clothing drive for children in need and raised funds to support local food pantries.
"We work closely with the food pantries," Becky Furry said. "We need to keep everyone fed."
Visit Us
Charleston Discount Grocery
1500 Madison Ave
Charleston, IL
Faith. Family. Charleston.