Dhru Patel, co-owner of Mr. D’s Delicious Fresh Foods, is shown with the Mr. D’s logo behind him.
Since 1983, Mr. D’s Delicious Fresh Foods has been owned by two brothers. It’s just that the two brothers who currently own it are not the same two brothers who founded it.
Larry and Ed D’onofrio have sold the business at 7156 Warren Sharon Road, Brookfield, to Dhru and Kinjan Patel, who took over Jan. 1.
Kinjan Patel runs a grocery store in West Salem, Ohio, and Dhru was running a convenience store in Cleveland when they learned through their food distributor that Mr. D’s was for sale, Dhru said.
“We purchased this business, and he (Kinjan) gave me the opportunity to run this business,” Dhru said.
Dhru, 32, of Twinsburg, said he was attracted by the steady stream of Mr. D’s customers and the loyalty of the customers, some of whom come from significant distances away to shop at Mr. D’s.
His goal is to run Mr. D’s in the same fashion as the D’onofrios did, specializing in hot foods, bakery goodies and specialty and ethnic items.
“A lot of people didn’t even realize it’s been sold, because it hasn’t changed,” Dhru said.
Some of those who have realized the change in ownership have had a simple request: “Keep it the same,” Dhru said.
“I tell them I won’t be changing anything,” he said.
There has been a learning curve for Dhru, because he has not dealt with produce, meat, a bakery or a deli before, he said, but he appreciates that he was able to keep the employees, some of whom were with the D’onofios for years, and that the D’onofrios have been willing to answer any questions he has.
Dhru said his focus is on customer satisfaction.
Store Manager Leona Harden said the store added Barilla pasta products because of customer requests, and plans to expand its gluten-free foods section and add to the menu of hot foods.
“We’re trying to be able to provide what the customer wants,” Harden said.
The Patel brothers’ corporate name is 7156 K.D. Brothers Inc.
