Twenty years in business certainly qualifies as a true watershed moment.

That's how long Barbara and Phil Scherer, the current franchisees, have owned the Convenient Food Mart in Palmerton.In honor of its milestone, the store will kick off a monthlong celebration at 10 a.m. Saturday, with an appearance by the radio station KRZ, complete with free giveaways; beer tasting at the Beer Zone; and a free cup of coffee at the 24/7 Laundromat for customers who utilize its services that day.The celebration will continue in July, when the Convenient Food Mart gives away a $25 gift card each day of the month.Barbara said July 6 will mark 20 years since the couple took over the store in July 1993. The original store opened in Nov. of 1986.As for the celebration, Phil said "it just kind of happened. We wanted to acknowledge it somehow.""The people in Palmerton have been very supportive," Phil said. "We want to thank the people of Palmerton for all the support we've received."In Aug. of 2008, the store reopened at its current location, 643 Suite One, Delaware Ave. The land was purchased by CF Marts of PA, Inc., in 2007.Barbara said "it was a move we definitely had to have made, or we would not have survived.""They [the customers] said that the new store is a big improvement," Phil said. "It's 1,000-square-feet larger than we used to be."The store is attached to the 24/7 Laundromat, at 643 Suite Two, and the Beer Zone & Eatery, to comprise the Convenient Food Mart Plaza."The Beer Zone and Laundromat has helped us," Phil said. "Their customers end up using our store."The store is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Inside, it features an expanded selection of food services, including a Boar's Head Delicatessen with fresh-made sandwiches, wraps, salads-to-go, burgers, and a variety of hot dinner and lunch entrées. An expanded bakery features custom-made cakes and cookies, pies and bread, along with pumpkin roll and birthday cakes."It's homemade; we have our own in-store bakery, deli," Phil said. "We put homemade stickers an about 95-percent of [those products]."Freshly brewed coffee is also available in a variety of blends and flavors. Cappuccinos, mochas and iced coffees are also available, and there is also ATM service and full service Pennsylvania Lottery.In addition, Convenient Food Mart sells its own brand of unleaded gasoline, available in three grades of regular, plus and premium. Customers may also purchase diesel and kerosene."Gas has been a real boon to our business," Phil said. "It's been bringing people in."Barbara recognized employees Belinda Taschler (1993), Charles Lowry (2000), and Cindy Parkhurst (1994), for their years of service.Convenient Food Marts of PA is the franchiser of Convenient Food Mart, and operates 30 stores in Northeast Pennsylvania.For more information, find them on Facebook.