The winner of the 2016 Best New Business at the Main Street Awards was Marshfield’s Homesteader Pantry. The business is a great illustration of how local entrepreneurship programs can successfully cultivate a unique local business mix. The Homesteader Pantry, open four days a week, welcomes more than 10 local producers as part of an indoor year-long market. The storefront provides many local artisans the opportunity to grow their business in a low-risk environment, benefiting
Homesteader Pantry Storefront
from shared marketing and foot traffic.
The idea for the pantry originated when the Burich Bunch Bakery became a tenant at the Marshfield Farmers Market several years ago. Seeing strong local demand, it expanded operations into a storefront for the holiday seasons as part of Main Street Marshfield’s 2015 Popup Shop Program, and one year later, opened permanently as the anchor tenant for the Homesteader Pantry. Owners Gary and Jaelyn Burich recruited a diverse mix of businesses to complement their baked goods, and current tenants offer a variety of meats, eggs, dairy, produce, honey, maple syrup, coffee, and ready-to-eat products changing with the seasons to keep customers coming back.
