PHOTO PROVIDED A counter holds ready-made food offerings inside of Lykens Market.

When it comes to local family-owned businesses, Lykens Market and LMR Tires go hand-in-hand.

According to Kacie Lykens, wife of Chris Lykens, both businesses are extremely unique.

“Lykens Market and LMR Tires are unique because they are built around family. We involve our family in everything we do. Our kids get so excited when we tell them they need to go to work with us,” Kacie said. “The customers have known them since they were all babies and love seeing them make their food and run the register. Our employees are also our family, some of them have been with us over 20 years. We take care of our employees.”

There are Lykens Markets in Beech Creek, Bellefonte and Port Matilda. LMR Tires has locations in Beech Creek, Bellefonte, Centre Hall, Mill Hall and Port Matilda. Lykens Markets has everything under the sun. From gasoline to fresh coffee and fresh food, Lykens Market is your one stop shop. There’s plenty for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meanwhile, LMR Tires are full-service garages, not just tires.

Kacie said that both Lykens Markets and LMR Tires are heavily involved in the community. That is by design, she said.

“As a family we have attended a lot of the community activities with our kids and that teaches our kids good skills and shows them a sense of pride. It is important that they know what we do and how we affect the community,” Kacie said. “Without community involvement we really have no customer base. The community is our customers. Plus a lot of the organizations we help depend on us, like the Boy Scouts, baseball teams, etc. Our involvement makes a difference. We help anywhere we can.”

In a world of big-box convenience stores, gas stations and garages, Lykens Market and LMR Tires are local, family-owned businesses.

“I think the No. 1 best feature of Lykens and LMR Tires is the sense of family and not corporate,” Kacie said.

You can now order food online through Lykens Market’s website. Hours vary at both Lykens Market and LMR Tires. Visit www.lykensmarket.com or www.lmrtires.com for more information about both businesses.

Lykens Market/LMR Tires

272 Main St., Beech Creek, PA 16822

www.lykensmarket.com and www.lmrtires.com