By Kevin Williams
"Salvage groceries" or "bent and dent" have become big business among Amish entrepreneurs seeking alternate occupations than farming. These stories really took off during the Great Recession, but have remained popular ever since.
Personally, I'm not a huge bent and dent fan. I'm not a "food snob" I just...can't get enthused about a dented can of beans or an expired box of cereal. I know, I know, the stuff is still perfectly fine. Okay, maybe I am a food snob. I don't know. Anyway, judging by the parking lot yesterday , I am in the minority. On a Tuesday afternoon it was packed. Losantiville Grocery is a relatively new business near where US 35 and US 36 (boy, mix up one digit at that intersection and you'll be going west when you should be going north!) meet near a small town called Losantiville. This no-man's land between Richmond and Muncie, Indiana has really been experiencing a huge growth in its Amish population the past few years. You get a mish-mash of Amish with their roots in Lancaster, PA while others come from the Berne area of Indiana.
Losantiville Grocery is Amish-owned and features a deli offering up cheese, meats and sandwiches to complement the rest of the store's offerings of "salvage goods." I saw boxes of Stove Top stuffing for .75 cents and boxes of generic corn flakes for $2.25 (I never buy Corn Flakes, is that a good price? Didn't seem like it to me, but maybe brand-name non-salvage Corn Flakes are expensive). Anyway, if you are in that area and like "bent and dents" the store is worth checking out! Here are some scenes from my visit!
Buggy signs on heavily traveled US 35 warn motorists to be alert
A stove provides some warmth to the building. All lights in the store are gas. And don't bring your credit card, like most Amish businesses, they are not accepted.
Candy, candy, candy! I had to keep Aster from this aisle!
Losantiville Discount Grocery is an Amish-owned Bent and Dent in town of Losantiville on US 35.
Floyd Neal
Hi Kevin just a update to the Losantiville article they do take both kinds of cards, we go there about once a month or so they have some good prices and use our cards.
Kevin
Thanks, Floyd, good to know! I thought for sure I saw a sign on there that said "no credit cards" but I may be mixing it up (yesterday was sort of a blur for me) with nearby Fountain Acre Foods, I know they don't...thanks again for the info!
Carolyn
Hi Keven.
The only thing I've ever heard about dented cans is that air could seep out or in causing spoilage. Otherwise in packaged dry foods like cereal etc. I suppose could get stale, but at the end of the day I would eat almost anything rather than starve. Could be I am somewhat of a food snob too.
Nancy
Is Fountain Acres Foods a Bent & Dent store? I am looking for Salvage Discount Grocery AKA Bent & Dent stores anywhere in the Midwest. All help will be appreciated since the majority of these stores can't be found anywhere online. Thanks!
Kevin
Where in the Midwest are you, Nancy? No, Fountain Acre is not a Bent and Dent..
L STIGALL
IS THIS STORE OPEN TUESDAY THE FOURTH OF JULY 2017?