80 years of friendly customer service

Ed’s Orchard Market owner Scott Rumsey

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

HESPERIA — In an age of big box shopping centers and dollar stores, small town grocers must adapt to compete against the corporate giants.

Ed’s Orchard Market is a prime example of a local family-owned grocery store that has proven it is here to stay for generations.

“We offer a pretty wide variety of products for a town that is the size of Hesperia,” said owner Scott Rumsey. In addition, the staff plays a big role. “It’s our customer service. We have had unbelievably huge success hiring people over the years — generations of families have worked here in the last 80 years. We have kids and grandkids of former employees. They’re the ones who make it happen every day.”

Not very many stores have employees who offer to push your cart out to your car and unload your groceries for you.

Ed’s is one of the largest employers in Hesperia, totaling 50 employees.

That solid customer service creates a loyal customer base. “Over the years with the added competition, we have people who continue to shop with us. They don’t want to go to the big store and walk a half mile across the parking lot and walk around the big store.” Nearby Fremont has both Walmart and Meijer.

What began as a small corner market in 1943 has grown into a 29,000-square-foot full service supermarket.

“My wife’s grandfather was in the grocery business. He worked for Kroger, and he lived in Cedar Springs.” Roland Dean, who went by “Ron,” moved his family to Hesperia in 1943 and opened a small market in a rented space. “It was in a big building where the (former) variety store is now.” A couple years later, the building was sold, and he had to move his business. He moved across the street, and it was the Order of Odd Fellows Lodge, which was a two-story building.

“In 1969, he purchased the building that sat here, which was the Alpha Creamery.” Ron tore that building down and built the current store. “This building has been significantly added on to three different times.” The most recent addition was in 1996 when Scott took over the business.

Scott’s father-in-law Ed is the store’s namesake. When the family first moved to Hesperia in 1943, Ed was just a young boy. “He worked alongside his dad in the store.” He then grew up to run the store like his dad did. 

Scott’s wife, Theresa, is a teacher at Hesperia Community Schools. Both Hesperia natives, Scott and Theresa moved to Petoskey in their younger years. She landed her first teaching job in Charlevoix, and Scott, who is a CPA, worked as an accountant.

“We lived in Petoskey for seven or eight years, and then had the opportunity to move back home and take over the store. She got a job teaching at the high school here and has been there ever since.”

The couple’s daughters Claire and Isabelle have both worked in the store during their high school and college years. Their youngest, who is a sophomore at Michigan State University, continues to work at Ed’s when she is home on break.

It’s not just that hometown family friendly atmosphere that draws customers back, Ed’s offers many tasty enticements. “In our bakery, we make donuts from scratch every day — seven days a week, and we have a full service deli. We’re also becoming more known for our meat department. I bought a smokehouse about 15 years ago. We process venison in the fall for people who bring it in, and we offer smoked products every day. The smoker runs almost every day of the year. We call it Tubby’s Smokehouse.”

Friendly customer service, a spacious and sparkling retail space, delicious deli food and a pride-filled family history all combine to keep Ed’s customers coming back.

The first store was a small market located in this building that opened in 1943.

The second location of the store where founder Ron Dean moved a few years later.