A Town Nearly Lost Its Grocery Store. Here’s Why It Didn’t.

Mulholland Grocery has been part of Malvern, Iowa since 1875. That’s fires, depressions, wars, changing habits, big-box competition, and one devastating blaze that shut the doors for three long years.In this episode of Mills County Roots, host Carlene Hall sits down with Tom Mulholland, the man who brought the family name back to the store, rebuilt after the fire, and kept a small-town grocery alive when it would have been easier to walk away.You’ll hear:• How the original store burned and was rebuilt brick by brick• Stories from customers who remember Santa Claus upstairs• Why Mulholland’s meat and sausage are famous across Iowa• What it’s really like to lose everything overnight• The hard, honest reality of rebuilding when insurance isn’t enough• Why this store matters to the future of MalvernThis episode is about more than groceries.It’s about commitment, community, and choosing to stay when leaving would be easier.📍 Recorded in Malvern, Iowa🎙 Part of the Mills County Roots podcast👍 Like, subscribe, and share to support local stories that matter