By DAVID TELLER
Staff Reporter
Customers going to Cheney Trading Company might notice a familiar face has returned to the Cheney business community.
Wayne Luddington, former Cheney Trading Company store manager, returned to the grocery store on Oct. 6 after a two-year hiatus in Post Falls.
He was transferred to the Post Falls store but he commuted 350 miles a month to remain in Cheney.
When an opportunity to come back to the Cheney Trading Company came up, Luddington jumped at the chance, asking the franchise management to send him back.
“I love Cheney,” he said.
He said he was reluctant to relocate his family while he worked in Post Falls. He said his daughter is a senior at Cheney High School and the time was never right.
Luddington who is known for his altruistic contributions to Cheney said he plans to continue his community involvement. He stresses that Trading Company has kept up with community involvement too.
“I'm not taking away from anything that was done here,” Luddington said of his time in Post Falls.
While he worked in Post Falls, he donated $100 of merchandise to the high school for the senior all-nighter. He also gave to the local food bank, which was an eye-opener for him.
“It's scary (to see) what the need is,” Luddington said.
He said after three months, the food drive raised enough to fill a 45-foot-long truck trailer, which is equivalent to 28 pallets.
In the past in Cheney, he donated pumpkins to Cheney Middle School and he also donates to the Turkey Trot. He wants to donate to the Eastern Washington University athletics, the EWU library and some of the fraternities. Being a member of the Cheney Rotary he said he also wants to contribute to scholarships and the local baseball programs.
Luddington started in the grocery business 36 years ago and he ran the Excell Foods store for 24 years. He has been with trading Company for six years, starting after the franchise's buyout of the Tidyman's chain.
Though he has only been back two weeks, he is seeing people from when he was here before and has enjoyed talking to them. Luddington said he is already making changes in the store too. He said he wants Trading Company to be friendlier.
“I'm not saying it isn't now,” he said.
He added that he is bringing in different merchandise. He said his store should be a pleasant, fun place to shop.
“That's how I run the store,” he said.
David Teller can be reached at [email protected]
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