Jasper-A World War II building on the M-52 between the border between Adrian and Ohio has been converted into a store that provides a variety of products for farmers, pet owners and homeowners.
The press release stated that Jasper Feed & More will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 am on Saturday, November 6th to celebrate its grand opening. Open invitation. The event will be held in front of the newly renovated store at 8655 S. Adrian Highway in Jasper.
The grand opening ceremony included special offers on products and free drinks, food trucks and ponies for children of all ages. The company will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the grand open house.
"We are very happy to let the public come in and see what we have done in this place," the owner of the new store, Irene Brown, said in a press release.
The building was originally opened as an auction house and tire shop through Lauffer Motor Sales after World War II. In 1954, it launched Lauffer's Appliance, a sales and service center for electrical appliances and televisions. Both companies are owned by Paul Lauffer. Over the years, it has hosted a number of businesses, most recently at the auction house before Brown bought it.
Brown bought the building earlier this summer and transformed it into a popular retail store with the help of his family. The exterior of the building has a charming new facade, with barn red paint and farm animal window screens, which let potential customers know what might be waiting for them inside.
"You did a great job on my father's original building," Carson Lauffer, the son of the former owner, told Brown. "I can't wait to take a look inside and thank you for making this shop look beautiful."
Jasper Feed & More wants to serve customers within a radius of 20 miles or more, including residents of Ohio. Ideal customers include all owners from large commercial farms; smaller farms; animal owners in the backyard; and all pet owners. As she described, she wanted to help the owner "keep the animals healthy and prosperous."
Brown has a wide range of products, including all feed, supplements and bedding for poultry, fish, rabbits, horses, goats, pigs, dogs, cats, birds, llamas, alpacas, dairy and beef cattle, sheep, etc. She also provides products for hunters, including blinds and wildlife supplements. For pet owners, she provides a wide range of dog food, cat food, bird food and rabbit food, as well as cat litter, bones, feeders and waterers, and other pet products. Barbecue pellets are on her shelves and on home and barn decorations.
"This is also the season when we need to protect our houses and buildings from rodents trying to avoid the cold," she said, "so I also provide various pest control products."
Finally, Jasper Feed & More sells natural and homemade products such as honey, biscuits and other country fresh products.
Brown also provides an advance telephone ordering service for busy customers, allowing them to call in advance for orders so that they can pick up the goods when they arrive.
"I'm very humble, I can do what I like in the community where I grew up," the Jasper native said. "My family has owned farmland here for decades. I grew up on the farm, so I am very familiar with the products I sell and the animals that use them."
Brown received consulting assistance from Lenawee Now to promote her business, a public-private partnership that promotes economic opportunities in Lenawee County. The funding for the consulting services comes from frp, a grant granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2019 to help veterans, minorities, or women-owned businesses. The grant was awarded to Lenawee Now. This non-profit organization can help Brown develop business plans and financial forms to determine her entrepreneurial and continuing financial status.
"Our team is here to help businesses, educators, organizations, and residents take advantage of everything Lenawee County has to offer," Lenawee Now CEO James Van Doren said in a press release. "We are proud that Jasper Feed & More will be another success story for us."
"I am grateful that they have this grant to help me," she said. "Their consultants help me understand all the different aspects of owning a business, so I have a comprehensive understanding before making a decision. They help me do this with confidence."
The normal business hours of Jasper Feed & More are from 10 am to 4:30 pm from Tuesday to Friday, and from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday. They are closed on Sunday and Monday. To learn more about this business, please visit Facebook. Contact the store via jasperfeedandmore@gmail.com or 517-743-9125.
Location: 8655 S. Adrian Highway (M-52), Jasper
Contact: 517-743-9125 or jasperfeedandmore@gmail.com
Online: Find a store on Facebook.