History
In 1918, a small general store opened its doors on the corner of Alma and Main in the village of Plain, WI. The village is nestled in the rolling hills of Sauk County and is located about 50 miles west of Madison. The general store was owned and operated by the Phillip Bettinger family. In those days, a general store not only carried groceries, but also basics necessities like shoes and furniture. That may be why the Bettinger family named it the Big Store. Through the years the store was passed down through three generations of Bettingers. First to Phillip's grandson, Phil, and his brother, Harold, who re-named the store to Bettinger Brothers. Eventually Phil became the sole owner of the store and re-named it Phil's Food Mart. Primary products were grocery and household maintenance items. In 1985, Lew Bettinger, great grandson of Phillip Bettinger, took over the business, and shortened the name to Phil's. He and his wife, Joy, introduced catering, a CSA program, and small deli until
Specialties
Catering, specialty foods, local product, general grocery items.