CENTERTOWN, Mo. - For the past nine years, customers stood up front and ordered a sandwich made with homemade bread or sweet roll at Shirk's Country Market, Centertown. Now, when they enter the business, a right turn leads straight to the new deli and bakery counter.
Recent renovations added 4,500-square-feet to Shirk's Country Market.
"We just saw a need for more product to be made (and) more room to work," manager Randy Shirk said. "With the renovation, people are able to get in the store, get back to the deli, away from the checkout counter."
This spring will make 10 years Shirk's has been in it's current location. Randy's parents, Deloris and Wayne Shirk, originally started their own business, after success selling plants and making sandwiches at Apple Creek Orchard.
"We started in the year 2000, but we started off at Apple Creek Orchard which isn't an orchard anymore," Deloris said.
Adding groceries and bulk foods was by customer request. She said their second location was on the Old U.S. 50, which is now Lookout Trail. When the new highway was built, they moved again.
Now, the expansion of the business is beyond what they expected. The expanded freezer allows for more food storage and a larger kitchen, with new rotating rack ovens, allows the homemade breads to bake evenly. Previously, employees turned the product halfway through the baking process.
Two offices, a break room and a new truck dock also were included in the renovations.
The business continues to sell plants from their on-site greenhouse. When produce is in season, they acquire fruits and vegetables from farmers in Versailles.
Country markets have a different set of products than most grocery stores. Evelyn Ward said she travels from Jefferson City for jelly and preserves.
"The renovation is wonderful," Ward said. "We love their homemade breads and their sweet rolls."
Shirk's is open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.
"Customers make it what it is; they come in and, if it wouldn't be for the customer, we couldn't do what our store is doing," Deloris said.