More than three decades ago, Bob Fusco, Jr,. graduated from Bryant College. He worked for a number of chain stores over the years, as did his father, Robert Fusco, Sr., whose experience included time at Stop & Shop and A&P.

After graduating, Bob and his father decided to open a grocery store of their own. The Fuscos, who live in the Hartford area, chose a site in Madison as the home for Robert’s Food Center, which has been operating in the North Madison Shopping Center for 31 years.

“We were looking for a location in the state of Connecticut that was in need of a local, independent supermarket,” says Bob. “There was only one store in town at the time and still is, but it’s still competition.”

While the store was in its early years, Bob got his master’s degree in food marketing from St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia. Bob and his father have worked alongside each other since opening the store with Bob’s mother, Maryann, working at the store for 25 years.

Bob’s mother retired six years ago and for the past several years, the Fuscos have been working to transition the business over to Bob.

“I’m looking forward to it,” says Bob. “I’m sure there will be some bumps, but I have a lot of plans and ideas for going forward, changing the store, and changing the product mix.”

Bob has seen many changes over the years as competition has increased, there has been more of a push for more natural foods, and technology has impacted the way customers do business.

“With everyone selling food now, the challenge going forward is to have unique and different offerings than our main competitors,” says Bob. “Now customers want to know what’s in the food, where it’s coming from, if it’s healthy, and they want local. We’re just getting to the height of our local produce season, so we have a big push for that. The trick is to have unique and different and good-tasting items you can’t get anywhere else.”

Bob noted that Robert’s has a Facebook page, text message coupons, email offers, and an in-store kiosk that offers recipes and other offers.

“With technology, more people shop and compare prices on their phone,” says Bob.

Bob has enjoyed working with his family over the years and says he is “grateful for all of the hard work his parents put in over the years.” His father focused on the administrative aspect of the running the business, while Bob enjoys marketing.

“Marketing is my own little lab—I might have 10 ideas and nine might not work, but I have the freedom to experiment and improve the store through trying new things,” says Bob. “I enjoy working for myself, the interaction with customers, and seeing how they react to different things we do in the store.”

Working in the store since its inception, Bob and his parents have gotten to know a great number of customers, watching families grow. He noted that on Tuesday, June 30—on the day that the store offers its senior citizen discount—his parents will be at the store to say goodbye to the friends they have made over the years.

Bob and his wife have three children—a son in the Marines, a daughter in Boston who will get married this fall, and his youngest son, who recently graduated from the University of Hartford. His youngest son, who has worked at the food center since he was 12, will be returning to the Madison location to work alongside his dad.

“Going forward, hopefully I’ll use the good things that have happened and avoid the pitfalls,” says Bob, who enjoys running and taking care of his family’s new puppy. “My dad and I have always gotten along in a professional way and talked out our differences. It is a family business, but we run it professionally.”

Bob says his staff is like a family with the full-time staff members having worked at the store between 8 and 22 years. With the store’s history, his staff, and his ideas for the future, Bob is ready to take the reins of his family business.

“I couldn’t have a better support team behind me,” says Bob. “I have some ideas to make it more unique—more produce, more prepared foods, and a new chef starting at the end of July who has tons of ideas. I’m glad it’s going to the next generation. That’s a hurdle most family businesses don’t survive.”