Intrepid entrepreneurs have a passion that moves them forward in spite of less than favorable circumstances. Bradley Cruice, owner of Handy Stop Market & Cafe in Lafayette, Louisiana, is one of those people. He opened his store at the corner of Jefferson and East Congress on May 29, 2020, at the height of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the most active hurricane season in recorded history and social unrest around the nation.
Previously, Cruice’s family owned a grocery store in New Orleans, and his father opened the first Handy Stop in 1967. “My earliest memory is standing on milk crates bagging groceries. We all grew up working in the store, from sweeping floors to eventually helping manage them.” And Cruice is continuing that tradition as his daughter, Abigail, works with him.
Whether it’s a pandemic or hurricane or beef shortage, you know the farmer, you know the producer. It brings a different level of trust to the supply chain.
When he first made a decision to open a store, downtown Lafayette seemed like the perfect location. Filled with interesting shops and eateries, it was also a food desert without access to fresh produce or healthy options for at least one square mile.
An old bank building on a corner was ideal. “The building had a drive-thru, so that was an advantage over other stores in the area. That’s the reason I chose this location, not realizing that we’d have a pandemic,” he said. The drive-thru turned out to be an asset as dining areas around the state closed.
Listening to the Community
Food is king in Louisiana, and people like it rich, spicy and often deep fried. Would a store focused on healthy fare attract customers?
“I can have the idea of healthy and locally sourced goods, but if the community doesn’t want it, it does no good,” Cruice admitted. “So in 2019 I announced the opening and surveyed the community. The top things they wanted were fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, healthy lunch options and locally sourced goods, as well as beer, wine and alcohol.”
The pandemic spurred interest in better-for-you eating. “That played well into the business model,” he said. “We were poised from the beginning to meet the needs of customers. We partnered with Waitr, and that helped us meet those needs.”
Handy Stop Market & Cafe owner Bradley Cruice worked in his family’s grocery store in New Orleans during his childhood, and Cruice is continuing that tradition as his daughter, Abigail, works with him at Handy Stop.
Cruice found his model of locally sourced goods was an advantage. “Early on, the national supply chain was interrupted. Even getting equipment from large distributors was hard. I could get supplies from local vendors, and we’d have grass-fed beef here the next day. We had local produce and even locally grown flowers,” he said.
The store remained stocked. Said Cruice: “Whether it’s a pandemic or hurricane or beef shortage, you know the farmer, you know the producer. It brings a different level of trust to the supply chain.”
Healthy Foodservice
As a registered nurse, Cruice is committed to keeping things healthy. “What can we as a business do to provide customers with healthy options? There’s enough businesses doing plate lunches. Our biggest sellers are the grab and go. Our wraps are made with wheat or spinach tortillas. Turkey and pepper jack is our most popular wrap.”
He offers a healthy spin on Cajun favorites like red beans and rice. “We throw in a few secret ingredients. It’s served with brown rice. [Customers] know it can taste good and be healthy,” said Cruice.
It’s the turkey burger—“The Gobbler”—that has people talking. “We didn’t want a typical burger. What we learned is people were looking for simple, easy, healthy options. We experimented with secret ingredients and I started baking it, so now, it’s even healthier.”
Spirits in the Vault
The c-store’s walk-in cooler is the former bank vault, retrofitted as a beer cave. Handy Stop Market & Cafe offers wine under $20 and more than 20 varieties of local beers. “We have national brands, but we have more local brews. I’m selling cases and cases of local brews,” he said.
Cruice opened Handy Stop during the height of the pandemic in May 2020, but the store’s drive-thru and locally sourced goods were advantages when indoor dining closed in Louisiana and national supply chains were interrupted.
Ensuring that customers get not just what they want but in the quantities they need is one way he differentiates. “Someone was looking for an IPA, and I got him a case of it. Now he orders a case a week. You can’t walk into a big box and do that.”
The c-store stocks two Louisiana rums, and some customers enjoy the fine wine and spirits with cigars also purchased at the store. Cruice partnered with a local coffee roaster to create a signature roast called Pour Mon Père, French for “for my father,” as an homage to his father’s passion for coffee.
With 2020 in the rearview mirror, Cruice is looking forward to making a few changes, including adding more delivery options, launching a new website so customers can order for pickup or delivery and expanding the menu. “We are working with a local chef, and we will have several new menu options in 2021. We’re still in the great unknown, but we will stay true to our mission of having healthy options and locally sourced goods,” he said.
House Accounts
Before the widespread use of credit cards, many small businesses allowed customers to charge purchases on house accounts. Owner Bradley Cruice brought back this almost-forgotten way of doing business for the convenience of his customers at Handy Stop Market & Cafe.
“I have a lot of attorneys and small business owners who don’t want to be away from their businesses too long. So I have house accounts. They order, I put it on the account and invoice them at the end of the month,” he explained, adding, “Sometimes I’ll deliver it to them to help out. It’s how small business owners help each other.”