“Customer service is always number one — that is more important than anything else because you have to treat people well,” Gray said. “I feel like you can make an impression on people on how you are treating them. To me, if I go inside a location I can tell if there is tension or if it is welcoming and welcoming is what we want to be.”

Marketplace Foods was one of the area’s large grocery stores when it opened in 1987 as Econofoods. Econofoods, which would become Tadych’s Marketplace Foods, was owned by Jim Tadych.

Tadych opened his first store in Brillion, Wis., in 1968 and would eventually have stores in Iron Mountain, Houghton and Marquette in the Upper Peninsula and Brillion, Clintonville and Sturgeon Bay in Wisconsin.

In 2021, Tadych’s Marketplace Foods was purchased by Coborn’s Inc.

MARKETPLACE FOODS is at 1600 Stephenson Ave. in Iron Mountain. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)

Coborn’s Inc. is a 100-year-old, employee-owned grocery retailer with nearly 10,000 employees and 77 grocery stores across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan and Wisconsin under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods, Hornbacher’s and Tadych’s banners. Coborn’s Inc. also operates numerous fuel, liquor and pharmacy locations.

Gray, who has been with Marketplace Foods since 2000 and store director in Iron Mountain for five years, said being part of Coborn’s Inc. has given Marketplace Foods the ability to offer better prices due to more buying power.

He added that being a part of Coborn’s Inc. also enabled Marketplace Foods to offer better benefits and more opportunities for the store’s 80 employees.

For Gray, the best parts of his job are the interactions with customers and employees, plus engaging with and supporting the community.

“We do a lot for the community when needed — we always sponsor the ski jumps and we do a lot with the Breitung Township Fire Department. Whenever people come in need for donations for sporting events or when there has been a tragedy and there is a fundraiser,” Gray said.

The store has many departments Gray says stand out, starting with the floral department, which not only offers grab and go items but can do custom arrangements for just about any event.

“If you call the store for an order, everything is made right here by a florist,” Gray said. “It is all made with compassion, especially when we have a funeral or a wedding. A lot of thought goes into them with our florists.”

Gray noted the floral department works with most area funeral homes, hospitals and wedding venues and does offer delivery.

The meat department is another point of pride, offering USDA prime, choice and select cuts of beef. Gray said Marketplace Foods is known for its porketta and they also make sausages, including Italian and brats.

“We have butchers here all of the time. Everything is cut by us by a person here in the store every single day,” Gray said.

The bakery and deli are also popular in the community. The bakery is from scratch, with most of the items baked in house. The deli features chicken, sandwiches, salads, sliced meats and even sushi.

In the past year Marketplace Foods rolled out online shopping and Gray said it has been good for business and for the many customers who are not able to get out or around easily.

Customers can go to shopmarketplacefoods.com and place their order and pick it up curbside. Marketplace Foods has partnered with Instacart for home delivery service as well. Gray said that customers can sign up for the Instacart annual membership for about $100 and get free delivery on orders greater than $35 and free access to the Peacock television streaming service.

Another perk to shopping at Marketplace Foods is its More Rewards program. In addition to digital coupons that offer savings on top of advertised sales, shoppers can earn gas discounts for every $50 they spend.

Marketplace Foods is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily at 1600 Stephenson Ave. in Iron Mountain.