The team at Miles Farmers Market functions like a family, and they invite you to their “house” to enjoy the freshest and best foods that money can buy

By Laura Briedis

There are many reasons why Miles Farmers Market has been a staple in town for more than a half-century. In addition to having an abundance of the freshest produce and quality meats, it is the staff that makes it so special.

From the chefs and meat butchers to bakers, cake decorators, cashiers, produce staff, wine staff and office workers, there are almost 200 employees—many of whom have been working here for decades.

“The culture here is different than at most grocery stores. We all share the same passion for food and feel like this is not just a job but a career,” says store manager Justin Golobek, who started to work at Miles stocking shelves and sweeping floors in high school, then went to OSU and earned a landscape architecture degree, before coming back to manage the store. “The owner, Frank, has always been like a dad to me and his son, Frankie, like a brother, as I have been around the store since I was knee-high to a grasshopper.”

“We take pride in treating all our employees like family,” says Frank, who opened the store 52 years ago. “Everyone who works here enjoys food, cares about what they do and takes pride in the store. I especially take pride in how many employees have made a living off the market and have been able to raise their families.”

Many of the employees work behind the scenes, so shoppers never see them—from the bakers coming in at midnight to start baking fresh bread, pies and cakes, to employees heading out to fruit and vegetable terminals at 3 a.m. to select the freshest produce. The work area behind the swinging doors between the deli and bakery is three times the size of the actual store. It is equipped with a state-of-the-art kitchen, where you can find someone working almost 24 hours a day.

“Whereas many stores sell pre-made and pre-packaged meals, we make just about everything in house,” notes Justin.

“From grinding our own meat for sausages to making homemade chicken stock that simmers on the stove for two days, we take pride in offering the best food. Some of our greatest culinary creations have come from our staff. Everyone likes to contribute, bringing us ideas for new recipes, which may be a family favorite or something they loved eating when they were on vacation. And while all the farmers who supply us with fresh produce and meats are not actually staff, they are part of the Miles family that works to bring our customers the best and freshest.”

Paczki are Back!
Freshly baked in-house daily. Made of a richer dough than donuts and without a hole in the middle, delicious Paczki treats are stuffed with a variety of fillings. Choose from apple, blueberry, raspberry, cherry, vanilla, chocolate cream and many more.

Dating back to the medieval era, Paczki originated in Poland.

The Tuesday before Lent, people would use up the food in their pantry, such as eggs, butter and sugar so they would not be wasted, and treat themselves one last time before six weeks of fasting.

Miles Farmers Market is located at 28560 Miles Road, in Solon. For details, call 440-248-5222 or visit MilesFarmersMarket.com.