‘We’re old school’
Kauffman Family Marketplace owner reflects on 25 years in business
Two-and-a-half decades after relocating far from his roots, Harlan Kauffman feels very much at home.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 really been an incredible 25 years,无毛视频� said the owner of The Kauffman Family Marketplace in Smith Township. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 really humbling the way the Burgettstown area and the community have supported us. We无毛视频檝e seen a whole generation come and go.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檝e really enjoyed serving the community. They like what we have to offer. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e old school and try to offer old-school service.无毛视频�
They also offer a wide variety of foods, including organics and natural foods. There is a deli, managed by Adin Stoltzfoos, which slices meats and cheeses to order and provides sandwiches. There are homemade baked goods as well.
Kauffman无毛视频檚 has indoor shopping and pickup service and arranges for delivery of some products. Twenty-five are employed there, including Harlan, who is of Mennonite heritage, who moved his family from Bird In Hand, near Lancaster, a quarter-century ago to western Washington County. He was new to this area, but familiar with the food industry. He said he grew up in the retail fruit business and began working when he was 12.
He launched the marketplace on a tract that had previously been the Farmall Tractor business. He has a large, framed photo of the Farmall property from the 1950s or 无毛视频�60s.
Kauffman and his wife/assistant built up the marketplace, located at 1718 Smith Township Road. It began bearing fruit 无毛视频� literally and figuratively 无毛视频� sooner than he anticipated.
无毛视频淚 didn无毛视频檛 expect to be profitable for a number of years, but the community embraced us and made us successful,无毛视频� Kauffman said.
Food isn无毛视频檛 the only attraction on the Kauffman无毛视频檚 five-acre property. There is a range of outdoor furniture on display outside: wooden and poly swing sets, play sets and lawn furniture.
Signage for the marketplace includes a display for Yoder无毛视频檚 Backyard Structures marketplace.
无毛视频淵oder无毛视频檚 was the building partner,无毛视频� Harlan said. 无毛视频淲e own it now and kept Yoder无毛视频檚 name. The items outside, he added, 无毛视频渁re from Mennonite and Amish craftsmen in Western Pennsylvania.无毛视频�
Five of Esther and Harlan无毛视频檚 six children are among 25 employed at the marketplace. They are Rylan, Amanda (store manager), Erika (accounting), Marcina (graphics, advertising) and Arthur (information technology). Son Carson resides in the Lancaster area.
The Kauffman Marketplace has been an exhilarating ride for all.
无毛视频淲e became the country grocery store here,无毛视频� Harlan said.