Michael Graham believes retail is about understanding customers and meeting their needs, even if that means keeping the lights on long after other stores have closed.

The owner of Mike’s Corner Market in Vassar and a second location near Linwood has spent more than a decade building neighborhood grocery stores focused on convenience, quality meats, and customer relationships.

“I’d rather sell volume,” Graham said. “Sell it as cheap as you possibly can and try to sell more volume instead of trying to get all your margin in one sale.”

That approach has helped Graham compete with larger chain stores while giving customers the personal service and flexibility they expect from a local business.

Before owning retail stores, Graham spent years working in medical technology, but he was familiar with the grocery business from a young age. His father worked with the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which gave Graham an early look at grocery stores across Michigan.

“I was always around the business,” Graham said. “Just riding around with him, going to all the older stores back in the day, I kind of learned the industry.”

After serving in the military and later working for Abbott Laboratories repairing medical equipment, Graham decided to make a career change that would give him more flexibility with family life.

“I kind of got out of that to take care of my kids, so they didn’t have to grow up in daycare,” Graham said.

Hours driven by customer demand

He purchased his first store near Linwood about 11 years ago. That location includes a gas station and serves commuters traveling to jobs in nearby communities.

About five years ago, Graham added the Vassar location, a historic building that has been a post office, gas station, and butcher shop. The store is known for its meat department and serves visitors staying at a nearby campground.

One way Mike’s Corner Market stands out is through its evening hours.

Both locations stay open until 10 p.m., providing a convenient option for customers needing groceries, fuel, or last-minute items after work.

“If they know you’re open, they’re going to come,” Graham said. “You will never know if you don’t have the business if you don’t try.”

The Linwood-area store opens as early as 6 a.m. to serve commuters, while the Vassar location opens at 8 a.m.

Graham said extended hours can help rural retailers better serve their communities, but they also require careful planning.

“It’s helpful for the public,” he said. “But it’s hard sometimes because wages are going up. Minimum wage went up. It’s tough to balance it out to make it work.”

Retailers considering later hours should study customer habits and local competition carefully before making the change.

“You have to really feel out your market and see if it’s something feasible,” he said.

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Known for meat department

A major draw for Mike’s Corner Market is its butcher department, which Graham said has become central to the business identity. The stores feature fresh-cut meats, smoked products and an extensive lineup of house-made bratwursts in flavors ranging from macaroni and cheese to pineapple teriyaki.

“We have maybe 15 to 20 different flavors of brats,” Graham said. The specialty meat selection has helped attract customers from well beyond the local area. “We get people coming all the way from down towards the Flint area, a whole hour away, to get some brats,” he said. Graham said retailers must continue evolving and offer something unique to stay competitive. “You can’t just rely on a pork chop and a steak,” he said. “Sometimes you have to reach out there and try new things.” The business also produces its own smoked meats, snack sticks, and jerky using commercial smokers at the store.

“That really helped the game,” Graham said. “People like your snack sticks and they like the jerky. It’s just one more area where people will come in and buy something.”

Coping with higher expenses

Like many independent retailers, Graham said the biggest challenge in recent years has been rising costs.

“The biggest thing I noticed is just pricing,” he said. “Anything you buy is almost double now.”

Since joining the Michigan Retailers Association in 2024 for merchant processing services, Graham said he has continued looking for ways to adapt the business while managing rising costs and changing consumer habits.

That reality has forced Graham to continually rethink purchasing strategies, pricing, and vendor relationships to remain competitive with larger retailers.

“You really have to be creative and look for vendors that might offer it a little cheaper,” he said.

Graham credits much of the stores’ success to employee retention and strong management teams.

“I’ve never lost a full-timer,” he said.

Rather than working every shift himself, Graham focuses on operations, ordering and overall store direction while empowering his managers to run day-to-day operations.

“I made sure my managers were top-notch, well-trained,” he said. “I let them run the store.”

Local relationships

Community involvement also remains a priority for Mike’s Corner Market.

The business sponsors local school activities, cheerleading programs and equestrian teams, and contributes to fire department and school fundraisers.

“Whatever they need, usually money, I’ll give them a donation,” Graham said.

During community festivals, the stores have hosted family-friendly activities, including bounce houses and prize giveaways for children.

Graham and his wife, Dr. Susan Sallach, are beginning to think about eventually slowing down and preparing for retirement. He remains proud of the business they built and the role it plays in the surrounding communities.

“Retail – if you’ve never done it before, don’t jump in head first,” Graham said with a laugh. “It’s going to bite you.”

But Graham said the long hours, evolving products, and community relationships have made the journey worthwhile.