Marsha Chartrand

New owners, new life for Manchester Market building

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Workers were on the job last Tuesday afternoon and throughout the week, to begin renovation on the Manchester Market building.

Since February 2019, the former Manchester Market building has sat empty and alone on West Main Street. Speculation about the possibility of a new grocery store coming to town has arisen periodically; but hopes have been dashed numerous times.

After 18 months, on August 4, the uncertainty ended. A roll-off dumpster suddenly appeared. Vehicles were parked in the lot. Coverings were placed on the windows. There was definitely work going on inside the old Market.

But what was it? Ken Heers, one of the partners in the new venture, explained it this way:

"My partner, Justin Dalenberg, is owner of the Grand River Brewery, a fine dining restaurant in Jackson, and a new restaurant called Doll n' Burgers in Tecumseh. We purchased the building here in Manchester because we needed space for our butcher shop and bakery, which we will be relocating from Jackson to Manchester to allow us room to grow."

He shared that Doll n' Burgers has plans to open three more locations this year; five additional locations in 2021; eight more in 2022, and eventually, one a month the following year.

Dalenberg is a five-star diamond chef, who has worked at restaurants around the state and around the world, including the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island and Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. He also works as a restaurant consultant with G.R.O.W. Restaurant Consulting. Doll n' Burgers, a play on his name, was conceived when the Taco Bell that was previously located on their property in Tecumseh moved west on M-50 to share space with the KFC. "We needed to find a tenant for that spot, and Justin said, 'I have an idea'," Ken said.

From its website, Doll n' Burgers describes itself this way: "We do things a little differently at Doll n' Burgers: all-natural, house-ground, black angus beef patties, Kennebec fries handcut and twice-cooked, fresh locally sourced produce, milk buns baked from scratch, and premium cheese curds from our friends at Cambridge Cheese Co. in Onsted, MI. We source only the finest ingredients from America's family farms. From farm, to pasture, to butcher, to bag, we care about every step of the process. When you support Doll n' Burgers, you're supporting hardworking, local families."

How does Manchester fit into this equation? "We needed an in-house operation for locally-sourced meat, a bakery that can supply our buns, and more. This location will sustain us for 35-40 locations in and around here," Ken added. "That's our plans for the foreseeable future."

In addition to partnering on the restaurant side, Ken also is involved with another aspect of the business, which is ownership of Lenawee Fuels and the Perky Pantry (which, in Tecumseh, shares a lot and a wall with Doll n' Burgers). "So we know the grocery side of the business as well," he adds. "Whatever we do, we like to do it right; we'll provide the highest quality, and the best service."

Their Manchester venture is a continuation of their commitment to doing business locally. In Lenawee County, they have partnered with Tecumseh schools and with the Intermediate School District and Tech Center to provide classes and interview services for their employees. "We are very interested in engaging in the communities we serve," Ken said. "We look forward to that in Manchester, as well."

Over the next two years, maybe sooner, they plan to expand their operation to a small retail market--carrying fresh, locally-sourced meats, and bakery items, along with produce, cheeses, and a few other sundry items.

Within the next two months, the operation will probably offer five to eight jobs as the butcher shop, bakery, and delivery operations begin. When the full-blown market is up and going, there will be the possibility of 25-30 new jobs within the community.

"We might do some other things in between ... it might happen more quickly ... but right now we are just gearing up to be able to supply all our locations," Ken explained. "We are giving two years as the outer limit, but we definitely see a need and want to benefit the community.

"We're thrilled to be a partner with the Manchester community."

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