Shelton’s Farm Market closes after 77 years

Published 4:04 pm Wednesday, December 18, 2024

By Max Harden

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NILES TOWNSHIP — A business that has served the Michiana community for decades closed its doors for good last week.

Shelton’s Farm Market, 1832 S. 11th St., Niles, officially closed its doors Saturday, Dec. 14,  after 77 years of service. The store was open to customers Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to sell off the remainder of its inventory at discounted prices.

The date of Dec. 14 was chosen as the store’s closing day because it is the birthday of the late Betty Shelton, wife of Jimbo Shelton.

On Sunday, more than 100 people attended a closing celebration where friends, family and former workers rekindled friendships and shared precious memories.

“It means everything,” said Shelton’s partner Joe Shelton. “All of these people are like family to us. We’ve got so many memories wrapped up into this and we just feel like we’ve been part of the community for so long. It’s really hard to say goodbye but we are looking forward to what lies ahead. We couldn’t be more blessed.”

In 1947, Ethan and Rose Shelton moved their family from Chicago to Berrien County and founded Shelton Farms in 1947. The business grew through the years to include Shelton’s Farm Market and Shelton’s Wholesale Co. in Niles. In September, Shelton’s announced it would be closing its doors and that Aldi Foods, a popular discount supermarket chain, will replace the Shelton’s building with a new Aldi’s supermarket on the site. The family will continue to own and operate its farm for the time being.

After decades of serving the community, Joe and his business partner Mike Shelton – president of Shelton’s Wholesale Co. – decided that the time was right to close this chapter of the family’s legacy and begin a new one.

“None of us are getting younger,” Joe said. “We had an unsolicited offer from all Aldi’s and the answer was no, no, no but a good thing that came out of it is it forced us to sit down and talk. Where are we going? What do we want to do? What are we missing in life? Because we’ve devoted ourselves to this for so long. Finally, Mike and I just came to the conclusion that maybe we should close this chapter, as hard as it is, and move on to what lies ahead. What made us feel good about all these is that they’re going to bring a food store here that’s going to provide value to the community.

“We provided value through the years – that’s a tradition on this corner – so that helped a lot. We’re selling into something that the community wants.”

For Joe, working alongside family and building relationships with customers are aspects of the business he will cherish forever.

“Getting to work alongside my two older brothers, my dad, my nephew Mike and all the relatives that have been involved through the years,” he said. “All the employees who have become like family – they’re not blood but they feel like it. And then the customers themselves – it’s been such a rewarding experience to help people. I think it’s fun to come to work. We told our employees for years, ‘this is the best way to do this until you figure out a better way and then that becomes the best way.’ Starting out as a little roadside market on the banks of M-140 to coming here with the outdoor market and just the progress we made through the years, just makes you feel good.”

‘A family affair’

Shelton’s Farm Market has always been a part of Niles Mayor Nick Shelton’s life. As a youth, he remembers coming to the market where his mother worked after school and interacting with customers, many of whom becoming his constituents years later. Stores came and went over the years, but Shelton’s stood as a model of stability for the Niles area. For Nick and thousands of Shelton’s workers and customers, Shelton’s was more than a simple farm market.

“It means a lot to not only me, but to my family to see so many people and the impact Shelton’s has had on just generations of families,” Nick said. “A lot of these people we’re seeing here are here with their spouses who also work here. They worked together in this business and there’s generations of families who are here. I’ve seen fathers and sons, mothers and daughters – it’s a family affair and has always been that way.

“I spent a lot of time talking to customers and reminiscing about all of the experiences that people had here. We were non-stop running, and it was one of the best days I’ve had here, ever.”

Nick recalled Shelton’s last day in business. At the conclusion of the busy day, Nick’s aunt, Kim Shelton, was the store’s final customer. As the sun sets on Shelton’s market, Nick said the experience of working in and around Shelton’s made him into who he is today.

“Every lesson I’ve ever learned has stemmed from my dad and my grandpa and I’ll always appreciate that and I’ll carry that forward,” Nick said. “Just the value of hard work and integrity and treating people the right way has been so important. Being able to be here has helped me connect to all of the members in our community in a different way and that’s been an experience that I’ll cherish forever.”

Retail Market Manager Chad Geister, who is married to Joe’s daughter, Rebecca, has been part of the Shelton’s Farm Market family for more than 20 years. Geister said the aspect of the job he appreciated the most was the old-fashioned customer service.

“You take care in really establishing relationships,” he said. “Our customers weren’t just customers, they were friends. They’ve been with us a long time. I hope that our employees that were here carry that forward to the other places they’re at.”

According to Geister, Shelton’s reputation for quality customer service extends from Michiana and beyond. Several businesses have reached out to Geister regarding Shelton’s employees looking for work after the store closes.

“We got several of those calls because they know what kind of people we hire and cultivate and that means a lot,” he said. “I don’t know who takes over that in this community – businesses that are willing to start with kids and turn them into functional adults. Most places, when you try to apply, they want 10 years of experience out of the gate. They don’t really work on taking a chance on fresh people and that was definitely something that we did, and we hope that niche can still be followed somewhere in the community.”

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