SHAMOKIN - Anthracite Provision Co. has been providing the area with deli meats and cheeses forthe past 68 years, ever since it was founded by Vincent Maher in 1943.
Starting out as a small store, the business has expanded to service schools, restaurants, bars, pizza and hoagie shops and nursing homes. It is currently run by Maher's daughter, Patty Sheriff.
She bought the business and has operated it since her father's retirement in 1980.
Along with its full line of meats, Anthracite has both Western and Choice USDA beef. All meats are cut to the customer's request, free of charge. Anthracite Provision also has a full line of Italian specialty items, including imported cheeses, peppers and olives.
The business offers free delivery within a 50-mile radius with no minimum order required.
"I'm proud to keep the business going strong after 68 years," Sheriff said. "We work hard to satisfy the customer's every need, and our customers are always number one."
Any items that aren't in stock will be special-ordered at the customer's request.
In addition to beef, Anthracite sells smoked hams that have been voted the area's best, The hams are available in skinless, shankless and boneless.
Sheriff said Anthracite serves the freshest-cut pork in the area, cut fresh daily. It is also the area's distributor for Berks and Dietz and Watson products.
While the business has been around since 1943, many changes have taken place over the years in addition to renovation of the building.
In order to accommodate more customers, Anthracite extended its store hours. It is now open seven days a week. Business hours are from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Other recent changes include a newly-built dock in the back to better accommodate delivery trucks and a new truck for customer deliveries. Anthracite now has three delivery trucks.
Since Sheriff took over the business, Anthracite has placed weekly advertisements in The News-Item, featured many in-store specials and increased both the retail and wholesale parts of the business.
"I would like to continue this as a family-run business, hoping that it can be carried on by my two children," Sheriff said.
While Sheriff oversees the operations, she also get a lot of help from her dedicated staff. Some have been working there for more than 16 years.
Cary Tobias, general manager, maintains contacts with customers, accepts orders, calls salesman and buys the products to be sold.
Sheriff said the business wouldn't be able to operate without him.
