In 1967 two former Kroger managers, Tom Sanders and Jim Barlow, fulfilled their dream of owning their own business when they bought a little supermarket, Maxwell's Grocery on South Cobb Drive in Smyrna, Georgia. It became the first supermarket in Cobb County to keep convenience store hours, 7--11 on weekdays as well as Sundays. Known all over Cobb County, for their choice meat and friendly service, the Quik Thrift
Store attracted such crowds on the weekend that it became a favorite stop for  local politicians on their campaign trails.
  With the success of this initial store, Quik Thrift Food Stores, Inc. began a period of rapid expansion.  They purchased another supermarket in Clay Plaza in Austell, Georgia and continued their growth by acquiring other small supermarkets as well as convenience stores. With the addition of stores in Paulding, Douglas, Carroll, and Camden Counties, the company grew to a high of thirty stores. 
  When the two owners began to think of retirement, they decided to streamline the company by selling all but their most profitable stores in order to make it easier for the next generation to manage.  Although the two original owners remain active in the business, the day to day management is handled by the Sanders and Barlow  sons and daughters with the assistance of dedicated and experienced supervisors.
  As Quik Thrift Food Stores moves into the twenty-first century,  the company has plans to expand with the addition of well-located existing stores and new stores. New products, new services, and new  technology are helping Quik Thrift Food Stores to grow, but their old-fashioned commitment to their customers and employees is the cornerstone on which the company is built.