Creston man buys Orient convenience store

Rick Ramaeker of Creston was excited to take ownership of the convenience store in Orient April 1.

Previously known as the Orient Express, under the ownership of Doug and Kristie Davidson, Ramaeker plans to call the store The Hub.

“I’m familiar with this community because I’ve substitute taught here,” Ramaeker said. “I kind of have grown to have a liking for this community and was looking to establish a business here.”

Ramaeker has also previously driven for a company that contracts with the U.S. Postal Service and has served as assistant to the Union County Weed Commissioner.

He has been impressed with the business ventures that have been successful in Orient, such as The Dugout Cafe, owned by Louis and Susan Cruz, and the real estate office owned by Ryan Frederick. He wants to be a part of that sustainability Orient has already experienced.

“There’s young people who want to seem to return here but in order for us to be able to draw them back you have to have a base,” Ramaeker said. “This store, and what Doug and Kristie have done with it, has definitely made it a center of commerce in the community, and that’s of great interest to me.”

Ramaeker said that not only is there a strong base of customers from Orient, but The Hub can live up to its name by being an oasis for travelers.

“There’s a large number of them who are passing through. I’d like to think we could make this a place that’s attractive enough for them to stop in and do business with us,” Ramaeker said. “Commerce is the lifeblood of a community. That’s going to be really important. We have a couple of other strong businesses here. Those kind of things are necessary.”