Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/837759
6 | M A C O N M A G A Z I N E J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 1 7 JUNE/JULY 2016 123 122 MACONMAGAZINE.COM How did you come to be the owner of a specialty food store? I love to eat, of course! But, in reality, after about 13 years of consistent employment in the recycling industry, I found myself on the wrong end of business terminations twice in about 6 months, so I decided I wanted to be my own boss. I looked at many different opportunities. I had had some dealings with local farmers and realized there could be a great fit here. I love the Mulberry, Bolingbroke, Wesleyan and Warner Robins Markets, and I wanted to make some of those vendors' products available 6 days a week. What will customers find when they walk in your store? You will find delicious local foods and gifts that you don't normally see in other grocery stores. We offer produce directly from local farmers, Georgia Grown specialty items, as well as Flavor of Georgia winning products. While we will gladly sell products to someone who runs in and runs back out, we'd much rather offer personalized service and have the chance to find out what you're cooking, how you're cooking it, and share our experiences with these awesome products. What does 2016 mean to you? This is the time when we found a home and became part of a family. The other merchants welcomed us into Village Marketplace OWNER: Brendan Rowley 2381 Ingleside Avenue, 31204 478-254-8722 villagemarketplacemacon their family and Ingleside Village became our home. I can't say enough how much these friends have put us on the map and helped us grow. In this issue, you will find a spotlight on Ingleside Village as a whole. I encourage you to check it out and then come shop with these amazing local vendors! Five years from now I want our business to ... be PAID FOR!!! Our goal is to run a sustainable business, and I would like to have expanded in some way. Whether that is another location in Middle Georgia, or some spin off business that we develop based on the needs we see in our partners, I want to maximize our involvement in the local farm fresh foods and specialty products. We will learn as we go and find the business model that makes the most sense. We are unique in the way we ... buy small amounts from small farms and artisans everyday. Our selection varies day to day, month to month, and season to season. We carefully curate our inventory based on quality and seasonal availability. Whether you're looking to make a fresh dinner, host a party, or give a Georgia Grown gift, we always have the freshest, seasonal selection! What do you love most about the store? I love the fact that almost everyday, a farmer or artisan is in our store and able to interact with the customers. One of my absolute favorite memories is the Monday morning that Rusty Bean (from the Little Farm in Gray) was sitting in the rocking chair reading an article that had been written about us, and then was answering questions from a customer about his produce he had just delivered. Talk about a Norman Rockwell moment!! Busine Spotlight SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Business Spotlight A special advertising section spotlighting local businesses in our August/September issue. For information about advertising: advertising@maconmagazine.com | 478.746.7779 Clients compliment us With referrals!