BRAND BUSINESS your WITH STICKIES • Exclusive front cover placement • Targeted mailbox delivery • Competitive pricing Ukraine, the store removed “Russian” from its sign and billboard, distancing itself from the con ict but still providing a piece of the culture its founders grew up with. After 25 years in business, Levitin remains the last of the original three business partners running the store, keeping her dream alive in the Meyerland community. “Russian Store is just a name... but it’s products are still popular in America,” Levitin said. demand were outpacing the store’s size and moved down Hillcroft Avenue to a larger space to accom- modate an ever-growing number of wares. From cheeses and sausages to books and jewelry, the store’s eclectic atmosphere invites shoppers to discover something new, Levitin said. Some of the most visible products on display are the bottles of wine, including racks lled with Spanish and French bottles and shelves stacked with bottles from Moldova and Bulgaria. “We have one of the largest choices of wine, [including] the famous Chechen wine,” Levitin said. “Armenian, Azerbaijan, ... it’s something that makes our store special.” The General Store has also become an avid BUSINESS FEATURE The General Store 25 years later, Eastern European grocer still stands in Meyerland A nna Levitin opened the rst Russian Gen- eral Store in 1997 with her two business partners, Alex Kogan and Natalia Levine. The grocer was founded with the intent to bring a variety of Eastern European goods and food to a city Levitin said was largely devoid of the niche market. “We have products from many di erent countries in Europe,” Levitin said. “Many products here you cannot nd in American stores.” In 2001, the trio found the supply and the BY GEORGE WIEBE contributor to Houston’s Russian community. A bulletin board of upcoming events greets everyone who enters and wants to stay up to date. Earlier this year following Russia’s invasion of
AROUND THE WORLD Items sold at The General Store come from countries across the globe.
Turkish co ee
Moldovan sauces and chili pastes
Russian coco and condensed milk
Lithuanian pickled vegetables
Russian and Bulgarian jarred vegetables
A section of the store is dedicated to products from Moldova, including wines, co ee, canned goods, dressings and sauces. (Photos by George Wiebe/Community Impact)
Ori Levy, a regular at the store, shops for some of the store’s many kosher options.
Working behind the counter, Manager Elena Goroshko helps oversee the store’s day-to-day operations.
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The General Store 9629 Hillcroft Ave., Houston 713-665-1177 Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
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