Brothers Kevin and Ronnie Marquart say their decades of experience in the grocery and food service business will serve them well in their newest venture. K&R Market, a full-service grocery store, opened Wednesday in Marthasville. The finishing touches were  completed earlier this week on the 12,500-square-foot facility, located on the west side of Highway 47 next to Heritage Bank in Marthasville. “We saw a need in the community,” Kevin Marquart said. Both Marquarts started working for Droege’s Food Service in Washington at a young age. After the business was sold they pursued other opportunities over the past few years. Recognizing that the southern Warren County area had been without a grocery store for years, they saw an opportunity. They felt the time was right to put their experience in the food service industry to work in an endeavor of their own. Ronnie Marquart also currently works for Kohl Wholesale based in Quincy, Ill., a food service distributor. “Droege’s was a local grocer and we’re used to working in a small community where everybody knows everybody,” Kevin Marquart said. K&R Market will feature fresh produce, a meat department, deli department and a large frozen food section. The store also will have a liquor department and an area where customers can rent DVD and video games. Kevin Marquart said the majority of the rentals will cost only $1. Customers can also have their groceries carried out upon request. The store will be open seven days a week, from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. on the weekdays, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sundays. The Marquarts said they hope customers take full advantage of their selection and not be a stop for just bread and milk. “We want to be able to provide the weekly needs,” Kevin Marquart said. “We don’t want to be a convenience store. We want to satisfy the needs of the community.” A large crowd was on hand Tuesday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Marthasville Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the store’s opening. “I think it will be well used when the community realizes what is here,” Alderman Jim Struckhoff said. “I think people will support it due to the fact they don’t have to drive to Washington or Warrenton.”  K&R Market is a member of Affiliated Food Midwest, a member-owned food wholesale co-op that serves 1,200 independently owned grocery stores in 16 states. Affiliated employees assisted the Marquarts in setting up the store and stocking the shelves over the past couple of weeks. By joining the co-op, the store will be able to compete with the larger box stores with pricing and the products it sells. Kevin Marquart said the store will receive deliveries twice a week, ensuring that a fresh product is always on the shelves for customers. “They have been awesome to work with,” he said. “They helped with the building and the purchasing of equipment. This will help keep us competitive.” Innovative Building Concepts, owned by John Kleekamp, served as the general contractor on the building project, while several local companies served as subcontractors. Financing was provided by Heritage Bank. The Marquart brothers said they are looking forward to serving the community for years to come. “There’s been a lot of community support,” Kevin Marquart said. “The mayor, the Chamber, everybody has been so supportive.”