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Main Street Reimagined Podcast
This is a podcast for dreamers, creators, developers, and entrepreneurs to learn, share, and be inspired to change your community through small business.
Main Street Reimagined Podcast
Episode 14: From Insurance Agent to Deli Owner with Mike Zucker
Meet Mike Zucker, a cornerstone of the Marion community who seamlessly transitioned from running Zucker Insurance Agency to founding Mike's Deli on Main. In this episode, Mike takes us through his adventurous career, reflecting on his time in the oil fields and behind the bar, all the way to revitalizing a historical building in Downtown Marion. Hear firsthand how Mike has managed to create a successful eatery by focusing on exceptional food, stellar service, and a clean environment, all while assembling a top-notch team including his accomplished chef and manager, Cameron Arn.
Ever wondered about the nitty-gritty of renovating old buildings to fit modern standards? Mike sheds light on the labyrinth of public utilities, health departments, and city boards, sharing the hurdles and triumphs he faced in transforming a former barbershop into a bustling deli. His tale is not just about bricks and mortar but about vision, perseverance, and community involvement. Explore how Mike's dedication has breathed new life into Marion, overcoming initial skepticism to become a beloved local institution.
Join us as we celebrate the collective spirit that drives Marion forward, from the innovative "Night Moves Shuttle" initiative to the camaraderie among local business owners. Mike opens up about the impact of COVID on service quality and the vital role of communication in community progress. Get inspired by his passion for Marion's growth, the collaborative efforts that make it possible, and his optimistic outlook on the future. Whether you’re a small business owner, a community advocate, or simply a fan of heartfelt success stories, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.
Guest Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikesDeliOnMain
Main Street Reimagined:
Facebook: facebook.com/MainStreetReimagined
The Main Street Reimagined Podcast, Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqfkmF5bRH0od1d3iiYKs3oEn_gvMYk7N
Henry Development Group:
Facebook: facebook.com/henrydevelopmentgroup
Website: www.henrydevelopmentgroup.com
Developing News Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/33110524eb5c/developing-news
Luke Henry:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/luhenry
Facebook: facebook.com/luke.henry.148
#MarionOhioCommunity
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#MikesDeliOnMain
#DowntownMarionRevitalization
#LocalBusinessJourney
#CommunityImpact
#BuildingRenovation
#HistoricBuildingRevival
#SupportLocalMarion
#EntrepreneurshipStory
#ChefCameronArn
#TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork
#NightMovesShuttle
#COVIDResilience
#MarionOhioGrowth
#LocalBusinessLove
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#SuccessInService
#SmallTownBigDreams
People need to embrace this community. We've talked about that earlier. You know it's so easy to be negative and it's a lot harder to be positive. But look at what I mean. The history of this community is amazing.
Speaker 2:This is the Main Street Reimagined podcast, a show for people ready to turn visions into realities and ideas into businesses. Hey, I'm Luke Henry and each week I lead conversations with Main Street dreamers who took the leap to launch a business, renovate a building or start a movement, their ideas, their mindsets and their inspirations, as well as some of the highs and lows along the way. This is a place for dreamers, creators, developers and entrepreneurs to learn, share and be inspired to change your community through small business. Enjoy the show.
Speaker 2:Hey everyone, luke Henry here, this is the Main Street Reimagined podcast and we're so excited to have you with us this week and let you in on a little conversation with my friend, mike Zucker. So Mike is with me here in the studio and I got to tell you I'm excited because we started talking before we started recording and all of a sudden I'm like, oh man, this is too rich to not be getting this on recording. We've got to launch in here because we just started talking like a couple of old friends, because that's the kind of guy that Mike is. He makes friends out of everybody and has been a pillar in the Marian community for many years and has been a pillar in the Marian community for many years and somebody that I've looked up to as somebody that's been well established here in Marian, well before I came along, and so glad to have you with me today, mike. Well, once again, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this is. You know, I'm not big on this, but I enjoy this and I enjoy your mission and that's why I'm here, yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you for that. So a little history here. I was just remembering, as I was preparing for having you on here, that you wrote our very first policy for the Brickyard before we started our whole Main Street Reimagined journey. So that was a fun thing. So, for those that don't know, mike operated Zucker Insurance Agency here in Marion for many years and we'll hear that as part of his story, and most recently we were talking. He's not retired, he's just kind of like downshifted a gear, I think, but he's went into a new business venture which is Mike's Deli on Main. So, mike, those that maybe are listening and have not yet visited Mike's Deli on Main, because you're fairly new there still tell them what they would find if they walk through your front door.
Speaker 1:We're trying to keep it simple, stupid, loose. Basically, we want to have excellent food, great service and a clean environment, and we take it from there. Corn beef deli sandwiches, corn beef, Reuben, Turkey club Italian sub. We're very fortunate we have an excellent chef that makes his own soups, his own dressings, his own baked goods. You know as well as I do, Luke, you're only as good as the people you surround yourself with, and I'm very fortunate to have Cameron Arn as my manager and chef.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, he's done an awesome job. And so you've got all those staples and everything that I've had. I've not tried everything on the menu yet, but everything I've had has been excellent and so you've got all those staple sandwiches and everything that you mentioned. But then he mixes it up with some like weekly specials. I see, you know, there's, like you said, soups and different baked goods, that kind of rotate, and those sell out typically before I can get in there and get any. So that's got to be a little quicker on your feet. So that's got to be a little quicker on your feet. But doing the pigskin pizzas on some of the weekends for the football kind of crowd and lots of different fun stuff like that.
Speaker 1:Right, so it's just. It's been fun to see that that evolving, even as you've opened which was just about three months ago or so.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly yeah. So Mike Steli on Maine. So, yeah, this has been a fun journey to watch. I think you guys did a fantastic job, not only launching the business, but you own the building as well and have completely renovated that since buying that a handful of years ago that a handful of years ago. So tell us a little bit about that part of the journey the building part and doing commercial building projects. And you own a commercial building in Marion Pryor where you had your agency and had some other tenants there. But you've learned a lot through that process too. Oh boy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. You learn and I had no idea of a lot of the things that were important complying with the state, complying with the health department but you just do it. Yeah, you know there's no reason to complain. I mean, you look at what has to be done and do it the right way, as you're doing. Unfortunately, in the past we've had a lot of downtown people that you know kind of cobblestone things together.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And you know it's hurt us a little bit, right, right, but it was. You know it's emotional roller coaster One day you're euphoric and the next day you know you've crashed in the basement. So but hey, yeah, yeah, endure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, what I admire, I think, is that you just you're figuring it out as you go, and you spoke to that, where having to meet commercial building code and bringing these old buildings up to code is, as you said, is no small challenge. In many cases where things have been cobbled together, things are out of compliance, codes have changed, use types have changed and you're just kind of relying on some experts to help guide you through that process. But there are people that will help through that process, right. And then you know, turning what was most recently a barbershop and salon into a restaurant was again kind of no small changeover again kind of no small changeover. And so learning that and then getting the health department involved to learn their expectations and talk a little bit about again maybe there's somebody out there that's considering wanting to do a project like this in their town or even here locally in Marion, what did that, I mean, specifically look like in terms of did you have them come and walk through initially? Did you rely on your architect, or how did that go?
Speaker 1:We actually relied on the architect to begin with, but before we even started, went to the health department and said look, we're going to put in a deli. We want to do this the right way. You tell us what we need to do, and I mean, you know as well as I do.
Speaker 1:You're only as good as the people you surround yourself with and I can remember my uncle telling me Michael, if you're going into business, you need to have a very good lawyer, a very good accountant and a very good bank and so, but I've been very fortunate in being able to secure people to help me look good, because I'm pretty much a dummy Luke, but it's been fabulous. The health department's been fabulous. They really get kicked in the rear too much. A lot of people want to complain about them, but they've been fabulous with me, very proactive. If we have any questions we contact them and they're immediate, you know, to get back to us. So there was no I in team, but there's an I in win. Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:Yeah, good, yeah, well, it's great to hear that. You know you have had a great experience there and I think it is important to be proactive and to start with being communicative. I think that a lot of people do get themselves into trouble because they either just kind of go without asking questions or maybe they kind of try to skirt the process and then get in trouble somewhere along the way and then have to backtrack, and sometimes that can be very costly, both time and money.
Speaker 1:Positively, and you're right. I mean having your building up to code from an electrical standpoint. It used to be so easy to open a restaurant. You're a restaurateur, you just turn on the light, but the electrical was bad. This, but the electrical was bad. This was bad. This was bad. And with all the buildings that you have renovated, you've seen a lot more than me, yeah.
Speaker 2:It can be difficult because there's a lot of different factors and people that you have to work with or to please. So in your case, you're talking about all of the different commercial code compliance. Sometimes that involves working with the public utilities, which is a great way to flex your patience muscle, because some of them don't get in a big hurry.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:And you know, then working with the health department in some cases, you know like that and then also working with your team to try to build a viable product. Working with the city in some cases you worked with regional planning and the designer view board to get your exterior all approved, which I was actually in that meeting with you. So I was excited because I got to kind of see what it was going to look like before you actually did it. And then, you know, kudos to you also for actually then following through, and it looked just like it did on the render that I looked at, you know, several months ago in that meeting. You know your signage, the lighting, the colors, you know, just very inviting, clean from the outside, and then, you know, clean from the inside, and so it's been a really nice project that you put together there.
Speaker 2:I appreciate that, Thank you. So, if folks are listening and haven't been in, I certainly do encourage you to visit Mike's Deli on Main to dine in, or you know there's carryout or even delivery options in some cases, and so you know Mike and his team are very accommodating. So I want to back up a little bit, though, and talk about again you've got just a few years on me, I think. Excuse my language.
Speaker 1:I'm an old fart.
Speaker 2:But you've been around the block several more times than I have been, and really here in downtown and in Marion in general a lot longer than I have. So I'd love to hear your whole story where you started, what that progression looked like career-wise and I don't even know if you're a lifer here or if you were a transplant at some point. But kind of take us through that whole timeline, mike.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, I was born in Springfield but my always remembering life. We moved back here. My father, bless his soul, passed away when I was three and my mother was from here. So we moved back here. My father, bless his soul, passed away when I was three and my mother was from here. So we came back here. So I, as all I remember is marion um, great town, to grow up in fabulous education in the city schools uh, go to college, don't. Don't. Uh, get my college degree, don't get my college degree. But always promised my mom that she'd never have to pay and I was on the five-year plan. So it was time for me to go out and get a job. Started out at the OK Cafe as a bartender.
Speaker 1:Okay, moved on to the oil fields at Drill Co out on Pull Lane Road, and I wasn't home for Thanksgiving, christmas and New Year's because I was traveling and as a young kid that was not acceptable. I wanted to be with the family. Saw a they had in the Columbus Dispatch a job wanted for young, athletic oriented men. I thought this is perfect. I'm going to be working in a sporting goods store because I am a frustrated jock. Well, it was going door to door selling insurance Wow, okay, and that was in 1979. And sold insurance, started my own agency here in Marion in 1984. Went on to partner up with one of my fabulous mentors bless his soul Bill Whistler, and we were on East Center Street, 777, east Center Street, catty corner from the OK.
Speaker 1:And then in 1999, we moved downtown to 196 South Main Street and at that time people were asking me what?
Speaker 2:are you doing?
Speaker 1:Because downtown was not a very inviting place and, once again, the real estate was cheap. I bought 196. I had been the janitor in that building through high school, my sophomore junior and senior year. I was able to go there after football practice or after wrestling practice and it was perfect. Yeah, it's great. And Dave Resch, bless his soul, called me up and said this building is for sale and I said, oh, I can't afford it. And well, he worked with me and I was able to get in to 196. A lot of work to do and it was frustrating because it was not a real favorable place to be, but I could see that it could be good. I didn't have the guts to do what you did and which has been amazing, thank you, but we had fun, enjoyed it, endured, and I just I'm so fortunate. Yeah, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that's a long run. So you said you started in 84, the agency and then moved downtown in 1999. When you bought that building it had been a few things prior, right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was when I was in high school it was Lord Sullivan and Yoder the advertising agency Okay. And, as I say, I would go in after practice. They had a vacuum flow system which was, like you know, that was big time stuff, high tech, right, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I'd clean the hallways, clean the bathrooms, empty the ashtrays, try to make the place look nice and presentable, yeah, uh and they were so good to me, I mean I, I am the lord's been good to me look I'm a very fortunate person.
Speaker 1:Uh and, and you know, one thing led to another, led to another. And when I was 16 years old, if you'd have told me that I was going to own that building yeah, you know, I would- have laughed at you Because it was like you know, a four-story. It was like the Empire State Building to me.
Speaker 2:I mean it was enormous, yeah, yeah, and it's a solid building. I mean we are really fortunate in.
Speaker 2:Marion, I think maybe some folks don't realize you know just how fortunate we are with some of the building stock that we have really well built tank buildings. Now some of them have had varying degrees of deferred maintenance and, you know, fallen out of repair and good shape here until you know recently when a lot have been renovated and revitalized. But yeah, to have four and five and six and seven story buildings in our downtown for the size of community we are, it's pretty cool. We have some really nice buildings, it's fabulous.
Speaker 1:And I mean people need to embrace this community. We've talked about that earlier. It's so. It's so easy to be negative and it's a lot harder to be positive. But look at what I mean. The history of this community is amazing, absolutely.
Speaker 2:It's amazing.
Speaker 1:I mean I got involved. There was a cigar factory that was across the street from St Mary's JC Newman, that was across the street from St Mary's JC Newman. And then Senator Harding and a gentleman, mr Bindley, who was the head of the chamber in 1919, brought JC Newman from Cleveland to. Marion with the idea of jobs and in a matter of two years they were the largest. They were making over four million cigars rolling hand rolling cigars in what is now the folks printing building yeah, yeah, they had the largest um humidor in the in the world.
Speaker 1:It was in the basement. Wow, yeah, just and. And so I was able to go down my tracy and I, my wife, my lovely wife, who does all the work at the deli I'm just part-time, she's full full full-time. Yes, yes, yeah uh, but went there and and said I would like to rep the jc newman product. Um, so we're, we're selling to some of the businesses here in Marion and we're going to then donate some of the proceeds back to the Harding Museum.
Speaker 2:Yeah, super cool, yeah, so tell me a little more about that, because I feel like I heard pieces of that story at one point, but never the whole thing. So this JC Newman cigar company still exists, yes, yes, and obviously not here in town anymore, but they still exist and they're still selling cigars. And so you're a representative for them. Yes, and so you're helping distribute those in some places locally and beyond. It sounds like yes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, it's, you know, once again, it's the history. And I was like I didn't realize there would have been that many people who knew how to roll cigars in 1919. Right, if you look, you know there were, were very, very little cigarette smoking at that time. I mean, you look at the old movies and they have a big old cigar in their mouth. Uh, but it was the women, because things were tough then and most of their employees were women. But they added four. It was 400 jobs, wow, which was amazing.
Speaker 1:But yeah, yeah, in going down there, they're now in basically, the garment district of Tampa, which is the cigar district, and they moved there, I think in 1951. But we want to try to take this to another level level and maybe in the future, knock on wood, uh, one of the newmans, bobby newman, came here and we met, uh, at derrick mullins's, the drinkery, and derrick was so excited and but they, they're the longest running family operated cigar company in the world, wow, wow, and continuing to grow. They are doing exactly what you're doing in the El Relo district of Tampa totally refurbishing, doing everything. But we need to get to the point and maybe something that you and I can work on, because we haven't to have them. Maybe come back to Marion storefront with a couple of employees, but somebody who rolls cigars.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that'd be a neat experience kind of seeing the process Anytime you can see how something is made, regardless of what it is. I mean, I think that's why wineries and distilleries and breweries have really become popular, as well as other experiential type businesses, because there's just a certain authenticity to seeing something that, as a consumer, that you're enjoying seeing how it's made and seeing the craftsmanship that goes into different things.
Speaker 1:It was amazing because I went and toured the plant when we were down. My wife and I were down in Florida and I drove up to Tampa and went there and spent some time with them and they took me around and went to the lady who they said was their best cigar roller. But they take so much pride. Yeah, yeah, you know, but they take so much pride. Yeah, yeah, I mean. And the people I mean I talked to during lunchtime. I went into the lunchroom and spoke to a bunch of them how well they're taken care of by the Newman family.
Speaker 2:I mean they truly care. Yeah, yeah, I mean. Those business principles are are transcendent, no matter the industry. Whether you're making cigars or you're making sandwiches, right, when the team takes pride in the work it shows, in the product and people enjoy it and the word spreads. And when the owner takes care of the team, they instill that level of pride and just joy in the work.
Speaker 1:And so you know. Now you're giving me goosebumps because you're exactly right. Yeah, that is the key to success.
Speaker 2:It is yeah, yeah. Well, that's a great story. How, how many years were they in Marion in that building?
Speaker 1:I can't tell you for sure. I don't think it was the full 32 years, but I think they were there a good 20 years and Wow and maybe I'm wrong, because the El Reloj district didn't start until the 50s.
Speaker 2:In Tampa yeah.
Speaker 1:And they said we got to go there because that's where all of the cigar makers were for the most part. Wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah, great story. Thanks for sharing that little nugget there as well. People are getting a real bonus here on this episode and you know we talk about that. But so you ended up having an almost 40-year run as a local independent insurance agent here in Marion and I just can't imagine the richness of relationships that you've enjoyed during that time. Oh, no question.
Speaker 1:That's what we're supposed to do. I mean, I was put on this earth to take care of people and I love doing it. I love the smiles. Hey know. Hey, it's highs and lows. The guy wrecks his car and it doesn't go well because they put aftermarket parts on and he wants new parts. But in the end, service and that's one of the things that we really need to work on, Luke, because the service industry there's not a whole lot of service left in the service industry.
Speaker 2:Yeah, unfortunately.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's definitely been some.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I think that there's definitely been some challenges there and I think that you know that COVID era really was challenging to a lot of different service and hospitality businesses, and you know some of these businesses that just took such a hit and were just literally trying to survive and I think that some of those qualities slipped and I'd like to believe that some of that is coming back, and I can't say that maybe on a broad scale, that it is everywhere, but I definitely know that in places like Marion and other smaller communities that I think there's folks like you and your wife and team that are really working to bring that back, that see that we've slipped a little bit and see that we've maybe gotten away from the roots of.
Speaker 2:Hey, you know, having a restaurant is more than serving food. It's creating an experience and it's really truly having hospitality towards our friends and neighbors, and I think that's the I mean I don't want to put words in your mouth, but in having the conversations that we have already, I know that that's really why you're doing is. It's fun.
Speaker 2:It's fun to serve people, and especially people that you know and like already. Yeah.
Speaker 1:No, I mean, I am a people person. You know I'm chatty-cappy, but it just feels good and when you surround yourself with good people. I have a marvelous team and they do a great job, and our moniker at the deli is we put a smile on your belly and that's what we want to do, and we want people smiling.
Speaker 2:I'm an eternal optimist, as you are or you wouldn't be doing what you're doing, that's right, Yep, and as we always say, our glass is half full, not half empty.
Speaker 1:But if we can continue to do this and put smiles on people's faces, it changes the entire outlook of our community. It does, and I'll go. I was fortunate enough that Luke called me and said hey, I'm having this lawn care seminar and.
Speaker 1:I'm going to send some people over, so a bunch of people, and I didn't know, I thought they'd be from Sandusky and Columbus and Cincinnati and the first person in line was a gentleman from Philadelphia. And he says I said, where are you from? I'm from Philadelphia, I know about good delis and this is good. And he says you know, by the way, there's a lot of pride in this community. And I was blown away. I mean I hadn't heard that in.
Speaker 1:I mean in a long, long, time that's right, and that really is because of you, I mean plain and simple. So you know, if we can continue to keep a smile on our face and let that resonate to other people. It isn't an easy job, because it's really easy to be negative and tough to be positive, but we're going to get through it and this is you know. It's going to be your legacy to turn this community around, and you're well on your way.
Speaker 2:Well, I appreciate that, although probably absolutely overstated, that you know, I mean it's it's definitely a community effort and, yes, I think that we're working really hard to push some things forward and to carry out a vision that I believe that was, you know, put on my heart and mind for our community.
Speaker 2:But, but, man, it can't happen without folks like you coming alongside and saying like, hey, I I'll do a building, I'll do a business, and I'm going to do it with excellence and I'm going to bring something special to the community. And I mean we can look at other examples of folks that have done just the same around the downtown and it's just really amazing to see what can happen when a group of people come together and are rowing in the same direction, you know, and really looking at it as, hey, mike, you know, you're not my competitor, you're my friend and we're working towards the same goal. We both want the same thing for Marion, we both want the same thing for our downtown and we both want the same thing because we really recognize I think we're seeing it literally that this rising tide raises all boats where you know, if you're doing well, people are coming to you and you're generating a great amount of foot traffic and then that's going to naturally spill over to other businesses retail, or maybe one day they, you know?
Speaker 2:they see you've got a line out the door because Luke sent 40 landscapers over to your place and they're like, well, why don't we just go down the street to buy race, you know? And so they mix it up a little bit and that's totally fine right, you know it's because we're all winning.
Speaker 1:And and winning. And it's amazing and Tracy has been. She's gotten involved now in some of the downtown Marion things. But some of the business owners are really really good people. And we need to, we need, need, need to support them. I know they hear that all the time and you hear all the time. There's no reason to come to downtown Marion. I went to that candy shop and it was a throwback.
Speaker 2:I was able to find.
Speaker 1:O Henry and I was oh.
Speaker 1:I need one of those and I said, hey, can you? There used to be the Hollywood, I think was the name, but they had the Zebra Bar and they had a Zebra Bar, it was white chocolate big time and there was three of them. Anyway, I said, can you find? She says I'm going to check. If I find that I'll let you know. But just walking in, you know we need to help each other. That's the idea, and Tracy and I are more than willing to help anybody we can in any way.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely Well, and the kind of anecdote that you just shared with the fellow from Philadelphia. It's so fascinating, isn't it, that sometimes folks from outside of our community come in and, without prompting, they're recounting all of these things that they've seen just in a quick walk around. They're like I love those cardinals and the art that you've got around here. I noticed that the alleys are bright and lit and I felt really safe and it's amazing the amount of boutiques that you have downtown here and specialty shops like the candy shop and this deli and you know these clothing stores and decor and toys and all of this and great coffee and craft beer. And you know it's like from the outside they're like this place is amazing, amazing. And yet sometimes it's taking us a while to get some of our own local folks to recognize that there's all of these great new places that have sprung up. Over 50 new businesses in the last six years have either started or relocated to downtown Marion here.
Speaker 1:And there's more coming all the time. Well, we need to get them. My saying is, we need to get them to drink the Kool-Aid Luke. Right, and there's.
Speaker 1:you know, the mayor came with a great he and the new lady at the bus department came with a great idea on a bus that will bring people, including anyone who goes to the locations where they pick people up, so to bring them down to downtown and to our businesses. And so I think I'm excited, I'm really excited that we are heading in the right direction. We're gaining steam. You know we're not going to have Lazarus or excuse me, Macy's downtown.
Speaker 1:But there's some things that we can do and and I know you're continuing and and we need to support the people down here, because they're working hard. They put a lot of their hard earned money into this and and that's why I'm doing it- because, the town has been so good to me and it's time for me to give back, and I'm hoping there's some Marianites who are thinking, you know, maybe I need to get involved and do something, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love that. So you mentioned the nighttime moves shuttle, night moves shuttle. So I'll say a word about that. So they just officially launched that, did a little unveiling party last night. I went to it and got to see it, got to get on the bus. I didn't take a ride but I got on the bus. They've got these fun lights inside. It's a brand new bus.
Speaker 2:I mean it's beautiful, it's definitely very state-of-the-art, nice, temperature-controlled, and they've got a loop that will run every hour from 5 to 11 pm Thursday, friday and Saturday nights and they have this predetermined loop.
Speaker 2:So basically it includes several stops around downtown the OK Cafe as well, cooper's Bowl on the south end and then all of the hotels out on 95 at State Route 23.
Speaker 2:And so it's connecting those folks, which I think is an awesome idea, because we have hundreds of thousands of visitors to our community every year and they're coming to town for business, they're coming for sports tournaments, they're coming for church activities, they're coming for family and a lot of them just tend to not go beyond the kind of chain strip there on 95.
Speaker 2:And they're missing out on some of the really truly local, authentic, only found in Marion experiences. And so I love that our city leadership is taking a step out on this and, honestly, they are really being recognized already as an innovator around the state. Odot is championing this project to say, you know, hey, look at what they're doing in Marion with this new shuttle project to help connect different parts of their city tourists, residents, you know, making it a safe experience, making it a convenient experience. So it's really exciting to see and just another example of everyone rowing in the same direction, seeing a need and then someone stepping up and saying I can meet that need and I think there's an opportunity that's going to be a win all the way around. So yeah, I think it's great.
Speaker 1:Well, I want them all to jump on the bus, and not only that bus, but the bus to develop downtown Marion.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Because it's exciting Once you get in. Is it frustrating? Yes, it's frustrating. It's peaks and valleys, but in the end it's very rewarding and when people come in, that's the best thing about the deli is seeing a lot of my old insurance clients. My friends have a group of ladies. There was 10 of them. They're going to come every month that I graduated high school with Okay.
Speaker 1:And haven't seen some of them. And you know I'm an emotional guy and I was tearing up when they came in. They said we're going to come every month and I was like, wow, you know they can't steal our memories.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that's, yeah, very cool. So we like to do this segment on each of these podcasts that I call the leap segment. So it's basically thinking back to the moment where you'd been kind of dreaming about this. You'd kind of had the thought You'd done some research, you'd talked with your wife, I'm sure, started to think what a team would look like, what a building would look like, and then it was time to actually move forward with this idea and make your, your thoughts and dreams a reality. Do you remember that specific moment in time where you're like you know what? We're just going to do? This tell, walk us through that that a little bit well it's funny.
Speaker 1:You say that we were down in in Florida and that was when we had gone to or I had gone to JC Newman in Tampa and Tracy's goal had always been to move to Florida. We're best friends down there and they grew up together through grade school and the plan was they were going to live side by side and so we went down to spend a month and kind of feel things out. It just wasn't for me yeah, I mean, I've you, I went fishing and and, but I don't golf and and to just sit there and I was like okay, so we kind of talked about it and tracy kind of was resigned to the fact that no, we weren't going to be moving to florida. And I love you, honey. So we came back and I kind of thought, you know, I was going to do this deli.
Speaker 1:I had gone, my my father's side of the family was from cleveland and when I was 12 I wenton's, which is a famous corned beef place, and I got this sandwich and it was like six inches thick and of course I had a 30-inch waist and a 10-inch inseam at that time and I had some of my. The Zuckers were in the in the uh food business in Cleveland. So I came back and two people that really carried me through this, luke, were Mike Mastro and Joe Stan Soda, two restauranteurs that knew what they were doing, and I kind of bounced it off them and you know, is this just going to toilet or is this, you know, going to have a chance to make it? And you know we worked on it and I picked their brain and cause I knew nothing about the food business.
Speaker 1:I know how to to put a hot dog in a microwave. Okay, that's about the extent of my food, but so we got the ball rolling. And then it was time to get a team together as far as the architect and the contractor and et cetera, et cetera. And then Tracy bought in and she's like I will help. And she had her own jewelry business and still does, but she's spending an awful lot of time at the deli and without her this wouldn't have been possible. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Now, had the two of you ever worked together? No, she never worked in your business before.
Speaker 1:No, and I always said it's the greatest way to get a divorce, right, I mean. And so she had never. No, we had never done that, but it's been enjoyable and trying, yeah, and long hours, I mean. As I say, tracy works a ton, but in the beginning you have to put those hours in in order to make it work. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. I mean that certainly resonates. My wife and I never worked together before we started doing some stuff downtown and now we've worked together on a few different business ventures and she's very involved and involved in Downtown Marion Inc and different collaboratives and community events and downtown stuff all the time. And you know we're doing that all the time and it can be very high. You know when things are clicking and you're like, hey, this is what we dreamed of, this is what we've been working together towards, and then sometimes it could be pretty low as well, right? I mean where it's like we both tried our best and we thought this was going to work out and apparently nobody else seemed to be quite as excited about it as we were.
Speaker 2:And you have to sort of pick each other up a little bit when you're both feeling kind of discouraged, and that can be hard to do, you know, as a couple personally and then also working together. Well put, well put. So what about Cameron? Tell us a little bit about the story, about how you ended up linking up with him and getting him involved in the vision for this.
Speaker 1:And that was due to Joe Sansoda. He said, hey, I've got you a chef, and I was like what? And he said, yeah, he's from here in Marion and he had gone to Columbus State and became a chef and I knew his father a little bit because he was on the Harding baseball team that made it to the state finals Okay yeah, so I talked to him.
Speaker 1:We spent a lot of time together early on going up to Mastro's BW3 up in Tiffin and spent time with Mike and spent a lot, a lot of time with Joe and and you know it's, it's been good. He's a very good bake, Very good. His products are good.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But it was interesting. You know when and in the beginning he was like this. You know, in the beginning he was like this is really going to be exciting, because a lot of chefs end up being dishwashers.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Because it's just not easy.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's not easy and he's performed well, and I'm the dishwasher now.
Speaker 2:When did you get promoted? Because you were sweeping the floors last time.
Speaker 1:Well, you know, I'm trying to move up and now I got my master's degree in dishwashing. Okay, good, so now I'm working on cleaning the parking lot.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:And the alley. But you know I was doing that yesterday, I had my leaf blower and I was blowing the stones. But you know I was doing that yesterday, I had my leaf blower and I was blowing the stones back in, you know, from the sidewalk, et cetera. But it's a good feeling, luke, to see stuff get cleaned up and you stand there. I mean, I'm so big on that. When I work in the yard, I work for eight hours and do this da-da-da-da-da-da, and then when I'm done, you look at it. Oh man, this looks pretty good and I feel pretty good about it and we're starting to take that approach on this town. I can't express how much, how great I feel about this town and how lucky I was. I mean, there were people who the mentors, and my family members and friends and the people who helped me to get to where I am today, and I just never want to forget where I came from.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, I love that. You know, I think that there might be some people that would hear this, mike, and say, yeah, I hear what you're saying. You know it's nice that you've had that experience, but I see things that are wrong with Marion. What would you say to that?
Speaker 1:individual. I would tell that person that well, first of all, I'd sit down with them and ask them why they feel that way, and then I would say I think that you're, you know, predominantly looking at all of the negatives, and I think we need to look at the positives.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Because the you know negatives outweigh the positives. I mean, think about it. I remember I would shudder when I watched the 6 o'clock news, because if you saw the 4, 6, or 10 van in Marion, it wasn't for a good reason.
Speaker 2:No, okay, never, never, ever yeah.
Speaker 1:And now, all of a sudden, there's good stuff going on. Yeah, and people love to dwell on the negative yeah. And, as I had said earlier, it's easy to do that it is. It's hard to be positive, but if we spend the time with the people and hear them out, some of them you're never going to be able to Right. Some people just can never be pleased. I mean, and that's just the way it is.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And there's some people that never will take no for an answer, and that's you and I.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:So I would sit down with them, talk to them, let them know that it's available, and I think a lot of people don't realize that you know there's help available.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, what you focus on expands. I think we've heard that saying before, and when we focus on positive opportunities, we see more positive opportunities, and when we focus on negative things, we tend to find more negative things. And we were talking a little bit before we went on here that I think that it's so easy to think sometimes that some of our challenges and issues here in our hometown are unique to us, but when we get out and visit other communities, there's a lot of other communities very similar to Marion around our state. We were talking about some of them earlier Springfield, zanesville, lancaster, lima, finley. I mean. These cities are like almost the same size, demographic mix, history of good days and bad days, and they've had some of the very same challenges and black eyes through the time, and they're the ones that are succeeding, are doing the things that I believe that we're doing also, and that it takes a group of people in the private sector, in the public sector, all being courageous, being creative and moving things forward. I think good days are ahead.
Speaker 1:You're eloquent, Luke. That is perfectly exactly right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. So it's exciting to see Not without challenges, but for whatever reason, I think that we're sometimes our biggest critics from within, and I don't. As you mentioned, there's been some periods of time where the news media, for whatever reason, kind of got Marion in their sights and sort of made us the whipping boy for certain societal ails that again existed in the exact same prevalence in other communities ourselves Positively.
Speaker 1:Exact same prevalence.
Speaker 2:Yes, you know whether it was certain you know violence or drugs or whatever you know. You look at the actual statistics and they were the exact same in some of those other cities that I mentioned.
Speaker 1:Your point on that yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but I'm also really excited you know we're working on putting some statistics together about the amount of decrease in crime in Marion in the last especially eight to 10 years is staggering. I mean we're talking 70, 80% reductions.
Speaker 2:I don't know if you've seen some of those statistics, but it's amazing and I think that some of those will be really telling to the good work that's happening. You know, you clean things up, you have a great police force, you have proactive city public servants that are doing programs like impact and things in the schools and in the community and just doing a lot of the right things and you start to get the right results over time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, and a lot of those people are vested in, you know turning it around, are vested in, you know turning it around the police department, sheriff's department, everybody I mean our local you know officials, the judges and the you know prosecutors, and everybody seems to be on the same page now and it's definitely getting much, much better.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, hey and are there still challenges? Yeah, there are they. Yeah, yeah, hey, and are there still challenges?
Speaker 1:Yeah, there are. They're going to be forever.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and do these agencies or some of these judges or prosecutors or whoever do? They always get it right. No, they don't, and you know, I think, that we can dwell on some of that or we can continue to, you know, maintain high standards for our community and work hard together to make it be what it can be, oh, positively.
Speaker 1:There's only one perfect person and he's not here, so mistakes can be made, but we need to learn from our mistakes.
Speaker 2:That's the key. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So this has been a lot of fun, mike, just kind of hearing your full journey. I'd heard bits and pieces of it through the time, but to hear the full thing has been really, really neat. And also the journey of kind of how this latest business venture has come to be is really exciting as well. And I mean, as you look to the future, share with us a little bit. Do you have plans of expanding the menu or anything like that? Or you're still? You know, you feel like you're really in the sweet spot now and figuring out hours and some of that all. Yeah, no.
Speaker 1:You know we want to try to get a year in to feel, I mean, it's new, every day is new. I don't know what's going to happen in the winter. You know foot traffic-wise. So we need to just continue to build the history of this business and how it works. And you know what we need to do. You know what we need to do. We definitely want to. You know I'm thinking that we need to get in to have a butcher shop, or you know some fresh meats, and not necessarily a butcher shop, but but carry some local.
Speaker 1:you know corn fed beef, you know pork, things of that nature. Want to get into giving the people what they want? Sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, a lot of it's just listening to what people tell you, isn't it Absolutely?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and it's great You're on the front lines. The great thing about a small business and a family business is that the feedback loop is really short. You know, it's like you put something out there. People either buy it or they don't. They give you good feedback or they don't. They come back or they don't, and so you start to really see what works. You ask the people what they want and then you try to deliver it with excellence and you keep iterating.
Speaker 1:So it sounds like that's what your plan is. It's a challenge, but it's a good challenge and we've got a lot to learn. Um I I will say that you know so many people. I hope you stay. You know nobody ever stays and we're gonna endure yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, you're doing the right things and so you're gonna get there, and it might look different in a year or two or five, absolutely yeah. But that's, that's the way of business. You know, you've got to. You've got to adapt as the market adapts and the community adapts, and all of that.
Speaker 1:So well, and and, and I want to hear what people want so that we can you know. Hey, I've talked to you. I think that we need a hardware store in downtown and unfortunately it's not going to be like when, because we turn our hardware and Crabbaugh's and I mean Snow's Racket Shop you go in and I need a R6742 peace for my whatever. Oh, yeah, you know and they come walking out with it. But you know, I'm going, I'm all in on downtown.
Speaker 2:Marion.
Speaker 1:I just I'm not going to take no for an answer. We are going to make it happen. It's going to take no for an answer, we are going to make it happen. It's going to take a village and, and we need to back you and we need to help you and go on. I, I I'm computer illiterate, but I actually my. When I was in florida I finally got a uh email address.
Speaker 2:My wife hooked me up when we had time to spend. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so, but the the email that you have that shows the buildings that are available, offices that are available downtown people need to. I mean, I'm going to, you know, start talking and chatting about that to people.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because there is a lot of beautiful, I mean some of the things that you've done. The 181, where I met with Dostal and Kirk the other day yeah, I mean that is an incredibly nice building and the rear of it, with what you have done for employees to be able to sit outside and eat. So you know I'm going to pat you on the back.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1:You deserve, you know, a hooray.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that was a fun project. So, yeah, Connect Co-Works and we actually just had Logan Kirk was our last podcast guest. Oh, okay, yeah, so folks if they hadn't listened to that. I encourage you to do that. But yeah, so folks if they hadn't listened to that, I encourage you to do that. But yeah, so we had Logan on talking about his journey and then their move to downtown, and we also talked some insurance.
Speaker 2:So I'm sure you would have enjoyed that conversation as well, you know talking about how things are changing and how folks can adapt in their business and personal policies to try to make sure they're staying current and also save money in the kind of current rate environment.
Speaker 1:That's a little more challenging. Yeah, I'm kind of glad. Thankfully you don't have to have some of those tough conversations.
Speaker 2:Yeah, again, you're in a great spot, decided not to do the full retirement thing, but you can do a fun business where you don't.
Speaker 2:It's still stressful at times, but maybe not quite as much pressure as some of that stuff that you dealt with in the past.
Speaker 2:You're exactly right as you look. Oh, and I will thank alley-oop and say that we do have a developing news newsletter that I send out every Friday morning, and so it goes out and it shares just a few stories from the week about, maybe, folks that we've hosted in town or events that are coming up. Or, as you said, occasionally we send out spaces that we have available or give updates on projects that we're working on, and so it's not always just our stuff that we're working on. You know we're also talking about if there's downtown Marion events or palace events or new businesses like yours coming to the community and that kind of thing, just to keep folks apprised in a different way, because not everyone is on social media, not everyone sees all the updates there, not everyone listens to the podcast although I appreciate those of you that are but some are more looking to consume that information via email, and so I started that a few months ago and I've gotten good response from some folks.
Speaker 2:Just, you know we are all in as well, mike. You know, when you say that, obviously I am as well and feel similarly, that you know there's a lot to celebrate, there's a lot to be excited about, and we got to make sure that we get the word out, and so that's what I spend a lot of my days doing, whether through this format or the email or other tours or talks that I'm giving, just to share with folks locally and beyond what all's going on here in downtown Marion. So with that I mean, if you don't mind, sharing what's something that you're excited about as you look forward for downtown Marion.
Speaker 1:I think, first and foremost, is just the people you know coming. I'm looking forward to that because they're going to continue to come, and I'm really excited about when the place is just exuberant. You know, just exuberant, you know, I mean people are, it's hustle and bustle and and because it carries over into the rest of it, into the school systems and to, you know, the, the law enforcement and and the other things.
Speaker 1:um, I'm excited too to see some of these young ladies and young men that you know take on this endeavor to open their own business to see them become successful.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And you know they're going to take the place of this old fart as I move off, but I'm never going to. I mean, it's just, I don't know what it is, luke. I don't know what it is, luke, and you maybe. I know you feel it too and I can't explain it. But I just don't want to take no for an answer and when they tell you you can't do that, that can't happen. You know that just adds gasoline to my fire. And I want to get it to the point where people say you know what.
Speaker 1:You were right and not for my ego but, just for our community, because there's a lot of really good stuff going on right now. It really is.
Speaker 2:Well said, well said Well. With that, we'll kind of wrap it up here. I sure appreciate. Once again, mike.
Speaker 1:Luke, I was a little hesitant. My wife was like Mike, you need to do this. You know I was like, but thank you very, very much for having me. And hey, you need to check this young man out because he's got it going.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Thank you, Yep. So appreciate all of our listeners as well tuning in here. We hope that you'll continue to follow along for additional episodes coming up. Be sure to visit Mike's Deli on Main. If you would just briefly here share if someone is looking to find you, Mike, what's your address, hours, all that sort of thing.
Speaker 1:Thank you, Thank you Absolutely. We're open from 10 to 5, Monday through Friday and 10 to 2 on Saturday. We're located at 153 South Main Street, which is right beside the Marion Brewing Company. And yeah, come on down. Come on down and let us put a smile in your belly.
Speaker 2:There it is Okay. You'll see Mike's smiling face, his wife Tracy, the real workhorse there yes, very talented Cameron whipping things up and the rest of the team. So encourage you to visit soon. So, mike, thank you once again, and all of you for listening. We sure appreciate you being with us. Thanks for listening to the Main Street Reimagined podcast. To learn more about Main Street Reimagined Henry Development Group or our work in downtown Marion, ohio, please visit MainStreetReimaginedcom. If you want to connect or if you know someone who we need to interview, shoot us an email at info at MainStreetReimaginedcom. Until next time, keep dreaming and don't be afraid to take the leap.