Pronto Convenience: More than just a chain store

As of Friday, Jan. 13, what was formerly In & Out Convenience Store in Grant, Nebraska, is now Pronto Convenience, under the ownership of Mike Schroer. Operating the store will be Mike’s daughter, Sydney Sohler, and her husband, David. Continuing to serve as store manager will be Janet Huff.

Mike is the owner of six other convenience stores in Nebraska, mainly in North Platte, and he saw a great opportunity for his family when Amy and Kasey Kroeker listed In & Out for sale. 

“I am very familiar with the area, and I knew Amy and Kasey did a great job with this store,” Mike said. 

Schroer said the goal is for Sydney and David to take ownership of the Grant Pronto store within the next two years or so. 

“The sale of In & Out presented a great opportunity to help Sydney and David move back this way, and a great way for me to be able to see my grandchildren more,” Mike said.

After serving as Operations Sales Manager for Sandhills Distributing for many years, Mike decided to purchase his own business and bought Big Red Liquors in North Platte. From there, he has grown his business to five more convenience stores, including In & Out. However, he doesn’t consider his businesses “chain” stores, but stores that are locally owned with family values.

Out of Mike’s seven children, three are working with him in his convenience store business—daughter Sydney, and sons Brady and Logan. That is, so far, he said.

“There is a good shot that we will be buying more stores,” he said. 

Sydney is a graduate of Ogallala High School, and her mom, Gwen Rezac, still lives in Ogallala. After high school, Sydney attended University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she met David, who is from the Laurel, Nebraska, area. 

After Sydney and David graduated, Sydney with a marketing degree and David with a business degree, they moved back to David’s hometown where they were in farming with David’s family. 

However, Sydney had hoped for a chance to move back to western Nebraska, and with her dad’s purchase of In & Out, the opportunity presented itself. 

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