When Julie Christ and her family decided to leave their comfortable life in suburban St. Louis to return to her hometown of Herrin in 2018, she never imagined she would soon become the caretaker of one of the city's most treasured landmarks—Louis P&R, an iconic Italian deli with more than a century of history.

A 1984 Herrin High School graduate, Christ represents the fourth generation of her family to attend Herrin schools. Her parents, Sue (Calcatera) and Wilkie Ridgeway, met as students at Herrin High School. Both her maternal and paternal grandparents also graduated from Herrin High, establishing deep roots in the community.

"Growing up in Herrin, I just didn't realize how good I had it," Christ reflects. "Being around all sets of grandparents, all my aunts and uncles, with family events going on all the time."

After graduating, Christ followed a path similar to many ambitious young adults from small towns. She earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Southern Illinois University after studying at Eastern Illinois University, then later pursued nursing at John A. Logan College.

Her nursing background led to a marketing position with Southern Illinois Healthcare, where she combined her healthcare knowledge with her marketing education. "It was just the best job," Christ says of her marketing role, where she promoted SIH's services throughout the region, including Cape Girardeau and St. Louis.

Life took an unexpected turn when Christ became engaged at age 36. Her future husband, Aaron Christ, was immediately transferred to the St. Louis area, prompting her to leave her career and relocate. Soon after, she welcomed her first son at age 38, followed by another at 41. For the next 15 years, she dedicated herself to raising her boys in suburban St. Louis.

The corporate lifestyle took its toll on family time, with Aaron traveling 42 weeks each year for his manufacturing executive position. In 2018, the couple made a life-altering decision: Aaron left his demanding job, and through LinkedIn, discovered an opportunity as director of Intertape Polymer Group (formerly Tuck Tape) in Carbondale.

"After a lot of discussing and crying and trying to make decisions—because we never thought we'd move back to Southern Illinois—we decided to go for it," Christ explains.

Initially concerned about taking their sons—then in fifth and eighth grades—away from the opportunities of a major metropolitan area, the Christs were amazed by how quickly Cameron and Cooper thrived in Herrin. The boys attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel before transitioning to Herrin High School.

"My kids have never been happier," Christ shares. "They made better relationships here. They were more able to be involved. They excelled at OLMC and Herrin High School. It was unbelievable. We knew immediately we made the right decision."

After a year back in Southern Illinois, Christ sought to reenter the workforce. When she discovered that Louie’s P&R was for sale, she and Aaron took a leap of faith, purchasing the beloved deli in December 2019—just three months before the COVID-19 pandemic upended the restaurant industry.

"I had never worked in the business world. I had never worked in a grocery store," Christ admits. "I was a nurse with a marketing degree that was now running an Italian deli in a pandemic."

The family quickly adapted, pivoting to become an essential business by expanding grocery offerings, implementing curbside service, and setting up outdoor grilling stations. Their persistence paid off, and Louie’s P&R continues to thrive under their stewardship.

"People were in here with tears in their eyes, thanking me, and so worried that we were going to change things," Christ recalls of her early days as owner. "Every day people come in here and say, 'My grandparents used to bring me here as a child, and now I'm bringing my grandkids.'"

Now serving as incoming president of the Herrin Chamber of Commerce and participating on the Herrin Education Foundation board, Christ champions the community that helped shape her. Her younger son, Cooper, now a junior at Herrin High School, shares her commitment to community service and is working to revive the school's Student Chamber organization.

For Christ, the journey back to Herrin revealed the true value of small-town life—not just for herself, but for her children.

"I truly believe their confidence levels went up living in a small town," she observes. "Life is what you make of it. It's just easier to maneuver in a smaller town. They see me getting involved in the Chamber and all the things. They're both just very involved and curious about life—more than they were in St. Louis."