The first Kroger store in southwest Franklin County was located at Jackson Alley and Broadway in the downtown. This is the only known photo of the business. When plans were announced to build a new Kroger store at Stringtown Road at Hoover a large crowd of local residents attended a council meeting to protest the site selection. The site, once part of the Pfeil’s homestead, is now a destination grocery for many weekly shoppers.

The first Methodist congregation was at Concord Methodist Episcopal Church in 1849 located at SR 665 and Hoover Road. This was prior to the Highland Road Meeting House in Grove City. The town’s three major religions, Lutherans, Presbyterians and Methodist all trace their origin to the old meeting house.

Grove City’s first Methodist Church was named Beulah Methodist since it was in Grant’s new Beulah Addition. The church was surrounded with new homes. The building was modern and since there was no electric in the village, it had its own acetylene gas plant for interior lighting. Electric service didn’t come to Grove City until 1913. Adam Grant donated a double lot at Park Street and Lincoln Avenue for the church. After a major fire at Beulah Methodist Church, the congregation purchased land on Columbus Street and built the Grove City United Methodist Church. The first service was in 1958.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1784 and the Ohio Conference of the Methodist Church was established 12 years later. A Methodist fellowship organized and flourished at the Highland Meeting House. Pictured is John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement.