By Shandra Martinez
In picturesque Glen Arbor, a small town famous for its proximity to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, is Anderson’s Market. As it celebrates its 30th year, the rural grocery store has become as much a staple of the community as the lakes and dunes that draw tourists from across the country.
Owner Brad Anderson had no grocery experience when the then 27-year-old, at the time a claims adjuster in Sterling Heights, bought the struggling store on a land contract in 1994.
“I had no intention of owning a grocery store,” he said. But having worked his summer breaks from Albion College in Glen Arbor at the restaurant across the street from the store, he was intrigued by the possibility.
Raised in a family of business owners, Anderson had entrepreneurship in his DNA.
“I was interested in working for myself, and it felt like the right challenge,” Anderson said. “The store was rundown at the time, but I was single, had no kids, and plenty of energy to make a vision a reality.”
He quickly realized that a grocery store is all-consuming.
“Retail is 364 days a year, and it’s tough work,” he said. “But when you don’t have an alternative but to succeed, it’s a powerful motivator.”
Going upscale
One of Anderson’s first major decisions was to change the direction of the store. It originally was part of the IGA chain, but Anderson envisioned something more distinctive that would serve locals yet appeal to tourists with luxury tastes.
“I pivoted from being an IGA store to working with SpartanNash to create a more upscale, specialty market,” Anderson said. “I wanted the store to represent the best products in every category.”
He built a Michigan-made section, filling it with local favorites like Northern Naturals salsas and Leelanau Coffee Roasters’ beans. He focused on keeping the store clean, welcoming, and stocked with products people were eager to buy.
“I learned early on that I had the ability to work a lot at a steady pace,” Anderson said. “Yes, I lamented that I didn’t have weekends off like everybody else, but I also had the drive to make the store what I imagined it could be.”
That vision paid off. As the tourist season ramped up each May, Anderson’s Market became a go-to spot for visitors from cities like Chicago and Detroit. The store has grown to 11,000 square-feet, from the original 3,000 square feet when Brad bought it in 1994.
“We had customers who would come in with five kids and load up with $500 worth of groceries,” Anderson said. “I had to negotiate with suppliers to keep up with demand. At the same time, I had to make sure we were serving our 600 year-round residents too.”
Residents have different needs
Glen Arbor’s population swells in the summer, but as fall rolls in, the number drops. Anderson’s Market, one of the few grocery stores within a 20-mile radius, serves both tourists and locals, which Anderson describes as a delicate balancing act.
“It’s the tale of two stores,” Anderson said. “In the summer, we’re catering to high-income family travelers. But as soon as the tourists leave, we have to pivot to being a store where locals can get staple items at a good price.”
Keeping the store afloat during the winter requires dedication. Anderson stays open year-round and stocks affordable essentials for residents.
“There are some lean months in the winter,” he said. “But we’re committed to the community, so we stay open to serve the people who live here.”
Anderson is always looking for ways to evolve. In 2018, he invested in self-checkout systems to avoid long waits during the peak season, and introduced online ordering for curbside pickup and delivery. The move proved invaluable when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020.
“When COVID came, everything else was closed, but we were able to keep going,” Anderson said. “Our business tripled, even though we lost half of our staff. It was an incredibly intense time, but being able to offer online ordering made a huge difference.”
Staffing has always been a challenge for Anderson’s Market, especially in the summer when the influx of tourists requires a larger team. Anderson has found a solution in the J1 foreign worker exchange program, which brings students from countries like Croatia and Turkey to work during the busy season.
“These kids love to work,” Anderson said. “They show up every day, eager to learn and work hard. It’s been a great fit for us.”
Anderson has also invested in the H2B worker program, which brings in more seasoned international workers for six-month stints.
“It’s a big investment, but it gives us stability during our busiest months,” Anderson said.
The store joined the Michigan Retailers Association, in partnership with the Michigan Grocers Association, to qualify for a workers’ compensation fund dedicated to serving the grocery community.
Emphasis on quality
Anderson continues looking for ways to offer the best products. His wine shop, in particular, has become a signature feature.
“We work with a local part-time sommelier to help curate exceptional wines at an affordable price,” Anderson said. “We taste everything ourselves, and if it doesn’t meet our standards, we don’t carry it.”
This dedication to quality extends through the store’s entire product range. From local honey to the store’s own line of apple cider, Anderson’s Market is known for offering products that reflect the best of Michigan.
As Anderson’s Market celebrates its 30th anniversary, Anderson says being part of a tight-knit community can come with big expectations.
“In a small town, everything is magnified,” he said. “You have to take pride in being a leader and reflecting what the community expects.”
Looking ahead, Anderson remains committed to the hard work and innovation that have made the store successful.
“You can’t be the first to adopt every new trend, but you also can’t fall behind,” he said. “You have to find the right balance, invest in what matters, and always keep the community at the heart of everything you do.”
