The Market Place is a main staple when you think of Columbia, Illinois. Owner and operator, Joe Koppeis, opened the store for business on September 18, 1989.

One of nine children, he was born in Farmington, Missouri. He started working at the local grocery store at 13 as a clean-up boy in the meat department. The Market Place’s current meat manager was his boss. At age 16, Joe became the assistant manager of another Farmington grocery store. After a year of college he went to Memphis, Tennessee to manage a grocery store for Wetterau, Inc.

Not long after that, he went back to Farmington and married his “high school sweetheart”, Patty. With Wetterau, his job took him through Southeast Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.

After four moves, Joe bought his own store in Fredericktown, Missouri in 1982. After going back to work for Wetterau and working as director of sales development, Joe stumbled upon the charming town of Columbia. After a client decided not to build there, he pursued the opportunity. Joe and Patty felt it was a great place to raise a family and plant roots as their son, Justin, was at the age to start school.

The store has seen some changes throughout the years. In 2005, a major renovation was completed transforming the small town grocery store into an impressive shopping center. With access right off the highway, The Market Place area has become a prime location for additional stores to thrive. Currently, Columbia Centre is home to over 20 various shops.