EDITOR’S NOTE: This is Part III of a 4-part series dedicated to helping our local small businesses bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic through shopping local. The first installment was published on Nov. 17 and the second was published on Nov. 26. The final installment will be published Dec. 15.
MANSFIELD — Gayle and Wayne Meadows opened Wayne’s Country Market in 1993. Almost 30 years later, the store is still family owned and operated.
“We’re a community supporting community,” said Nicolle Mokros, the Meadows’ daughter and the wine and beer manager at the store.
“We’re employing local, young high school kids. A lot of our high school kids will come and work for us throughout college until they go on to their ‘grown-up’ jobs.”
It’s no secret that small businesses have a big impact on the communities they serve. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses power the country’s economy. They account for 44% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product, create two-thirds of net new jobs, and employ nearly half of America’s workforce. The Financial Times reports that 4.7 million family-owned businesses employ 12.6 million employees nationwide.
While most of the end-of-the-year conversations about shopping local focus on gifts, small businesses are also a great place to pick up everything you need for Christmas dinner.
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop, Richland County is home to many small grocery stores like Wayne’s. These stores often offer locally-sourced products that aren’t available at chains retailers.
“We try to do as much local Ohio stuff as we can. We have steaks and burgers from the Lucas area and chicken from Holmes County,” Mokros said. “We have Amish-baked goods, which are from Holmes County that we go and get twice a week, jams and jellies from over in Holmes County also. So there’s definitely a lot of local stuff here.”
“One of the dips that we have is Oh So Delicious,” she added. “She’s makes her dips here locally and they’re absolutely amazing.”
Shoppers in search of a juicy roast beef, smoked honey ham or even a leg of lamb, can also visit a local butcher or meat market.
Businesses like Chad’s Country Meats get their product straight from farms in Richland and the surrounding counties and make the cuts in shop.
“It’s not coming into our store in a box. It’s coming in on the rail, as fresh as they can get,” said Chad Rank Jr., who owns the market with his father. “We can cut anything to size, special order, right here in front of the customer if they want.”
Families who celebrate Christmas with brunch rather than a fancy dinner can pick up bacon cured in the smokehouse onsite.
Regardless of one’s meat of choice, Rank recommends getting your orders in early.
“For Christmas orders, we’re recommending everybody puts their order a week to two weeks in advance,” he said. “They can call in or they can stop in, along with Facebook — they can contact us on there.”
Want to try something other than the traditional dinner rolls and Christmas cookies? Pick up a loaf of homemade bread or special dessert from one of the area’s many local bakeries.
Of course, no holiday get together is complete without festive decor. Floral shops are an excellent place to find the perfect centerpiece for the dining room table.
For a full list of Richland County’s locally-owned grocery stores, meat markets, bakeries and floral shops, check out the map below. (Click the button in the top left corner to select by category).
