Picchioni's IGA Celebrates 100 Years

Nestled amidst Montana's sweeping landscapes and close-knit communities, a family legacy has thrived for a century. The story of Picchioni's IGA is a testament to the enduring spirit of immigrants who, in 1923, embarked on a journey from Italy to the United States in pursuit of opportunity.

As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of Picchioni's IGA, we delve into a remarkable tale of hard work, dedication, and the enduring values that have sustained this family-owned business through the generations.

A Storied History

Joe and Josephine Picchioni left their Italian homeland in 1923 for better opportunities in the United States. After some time in Illinois, they settled in Montana, just south of Roundup, drawn by the call of working in the coal mines.

Soon, they embarked on a bold new venture, founding OK Grocery and Meat Market in Klein. In 1938, Jeano Picchioni and his brother Frank Sr. took over the family business, acquiring what was once known as the Model grocery store.

In 1977, a new chapter unfolded as Don Picchioni, his brother Albert, and their cousin, Frank Jr., joined forces to erect the formidable Picchioni’s IGA in Roundup. Over time, their vision took shape, evolving the store into a thriving grocery hub. By 1984, its transformation was complete, having undergone a renovation, which included the addition of a pharmacy.

   Joe and Josephine Picchioni at the "OK Grocery and Meat Market"  aka original Picchioni store in 1923

The New Generation

Fast forward to the year 2004, when Don’s son, David Picchioni, returned to Roundup to assume leadership. Joined by his brother Joe in 2009, they breathed fresh life into the family business. The brothers went on to purchase Van’s IGA in Forsyth, Montana in 2016, which became Picchioni’s IGA Forsyth.

These days, the basic breakdown of operations between the two consists of Joe running the Roundup store while David bounces between Roundup and Forsyth to oversee overall business operations.

Both recall working at the store as early as 4 years old. On Sundays after church, the brothers would go in with their father to help face the shelves, specifically the soup section, as Joe remembers.

“Our treat was that he would buy us lunch from the A&W up the street, and a large bottle of grape pop out of our pop machine. We would sit in the office and have lunch together,” David said.

David was quite sure early on that he was destined to run the family business. “Even since I was in high school, I was pretty sure I was coming back to buy this out and continue to run it,” he said.

David, Don, and Joe Picchioni

While David was at Montana State University he worked for the Vans Group, who were also IGA owners at the time. Whether it was working in the deli or at the cash registers, he was constantly involved in grocery operations. It allowed him to take what he learned back to the family business in Roundup.

Joe also went to MSU and kicked off a career in sales by moving to Boise, Idaho. After some time, he realized it was time to return to the family business and did so in 2009.

“I wanted to be in business with people that I knew and trusted. At that point in my life, I decided that I was really excited about being a part of the family legacy. And so that's when I made the decision to move back to Roundup,” Joe said.

David describes Roundup as a bedroom community for Billings, the biggest city in Montana. It’s filled with agriculture, ranching, and a coal mine.

Community Involvement

Being involved in the community, whether individually or through the store, has always been the way with the Picchioni family.

David and Joe’s father Don served as the chief of the Roundup Volunteer Fire Department for years and Joe is currently volunteering.

“We all at one time sat on many, many different boards, whether it's the hospital board, the golf course board, etc.” David said.

David currently sits on the board of directors for the local water authority, which aims to get fresh mountain spring water to residents.

The store always looks forward to Roundup’s annual 4^th of July celebration, which causes the town to more than double in size. The Picchioni’s like to get involved with the local 4H as well.

David, Don, and Joe Picchioni

Celebrating Day

The day of the store’s centennial celebration came in many forms on March 23. Picchioni’s IGA sold several items at 100 cents and ran a 3-week ad with various item promotions at $1 or 100 cents.

The community joined together for festivities in August when the grocer hosted a concert bash with live music at the local park. Unfortunately, midway through the event, a hard rain put an end to the party.

“It was really cool. And we've gotten a ton of compliments on it. But man, it was on its way to be something pretty special,” David said.

Nevertheless, the celebration marks 100 years of family ownership, a feat that few grocery stores can claim.

“I’m really proud to be a part of the legacy,” Joe said. “It was our great grandparents in 1923 truly doing the American dream. Immigrants who came to the country with nothing, started out in the coal mines, and took a leap of faith. And here we are 100 years later. Out of respect to them, we're trying to do the best we can to keep this going and to honor the hard work that they've done.”

Key Differentiators

Picchioni’s IGA offers an outstanding deli and bakery with fresh fried donuts every day, which David proudly claims are the best in the state. But where they tend to thrive is in customer service.

“We've been taught for a long time that you treat your employees and your customers with the golden rule (treat others how you would like to be treated), and they’ll take care of you. And that includes being there financially to donate to all of the different organizations, whether that's the school, the baseball team, or the 4-H kids, any of those organizations throughout the year. If you're loyal to them, they will be loyal to you,” David said.

David can say that 10 of his 30 employees are long-term staff that live and breathe the Hometown Proud way and help train that mission into the rest of the team, providing exceptional customer service. Joe said that his father always prioritized showing his appreciation to staff at company get-togethers and they try to do the same today.

Each year, the Picchioni brothers prioritize taking some money made and putting it back into the building, whether it means updated refrigeration, new check stands, or a front-end system.

Part of the Alliance

David and Joe both said the IGA Coca-Cola Institute’s online training has been the most valuable program for them. David adds that he has enjoyed the networking opportunities that come along with being a part of the Alliance.

“The people that we've known from IGA over the years have always been very supportive of whatever we need,” Joe said. “The Coca Cola Institute has been handy for us, especially with the alcohol training that is required for our cashiers in Montana. In general, we are proud to be IGA. That's all we've known growing up. And that's what the community knows us as we're IGA.”

“The biggest thing for me is my dad taught me to go to those IGA events and just network with the retailers. The retail network that IGA has is unbelievable,” David said. “Being able to discuss things with somebody that's got nine stores, or somebody that's got a store smaller than you and see how different things impact them and how they impact you, and in different states, and different parts of the country.”

Will there be a future generation of Picchioni ownership? That’s unclear at the moment as both brothers will not force the decision on their kids, but the chance to further the family legacy will certainly be there.

“It would be super cool, right? Because that'd be fifth generation. But like Dave and I, it was never forced on us,” Joe said. “We always knew that that opportunity was there if we want it, but our dad always made it clear that we could pursue whatever we wanted to.”

See newspaper photos of the store and family throughout the years in the gallery below.