The Community Correspondent role provides readers with on-the-ground and inclusive stories about the Port Huron area. This is made possible through funding provided by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.

Tucked amongst green fields, small, family country stores have provided food, liquor, and quality customer service to the communities in St. Clair County for decades. Once the only places to shop locally, these establishments have weathered the times and have been passed on through multiple generations.

Trombley’s Country Market, located on M-21 in Emmett Township, has existed for five decades and is now run by co-owner Nathan Trombley, a millennial carrying on his family’s tradition with his brother, Ethan.

“It all started 51 years ago when my grandparents set up a small vegetable stand on a quiet rural road. Over the years, that stand evolved into the market we cherish today,” Nathan Trombley says.

Nathan’s father ran Trombley’s Market for over thirty years while working as a teacher in Emmett. When he passed away in 2019, his wife Denice took over the store and ran it while Nathan and Ethan completed their school studies, a tough period in the market’s history.

The family considered selling the business.

“My father had been the heart of Trombley’s Market for 30 years, and losing him left a void, both in our family and in the store,” he says. “It was an incredibly rough period, and honestly, there were times when it felt like we might not make it. But the community rallied around us, and their loyalty and support kept us going when we needed it most. We will never forget it.”

While it is difficult to pinpoint exactly how many country stores there are in the county, a drive around the area will show that with every city or village, there is a mom-and-pop market nearby. These markets allow consumers to avoid the longer drives to the larger stores, create hubs for community interactions, and are a great place to find the latest news in the local villages.

“Continuing Trombley's Market was never about running a store; it is about upholding a tradition and serving a community that feels like family,” he says. “My brother Ethan and I felt it was our duty to honor our father’s memory by ensuring that the market continued to be a warm, welcoming place for everyone.”

Ethan Trombley making sandwiches at Trombley's Country Market.

“We concentrate on what we do best,” The Difficulty of Running a Business

Mom and pop country stores face multiple challenges today. Keeping their prices competitive while offering a variety of goods and services that their customers desire is one of the most pressing issues. Since the markets are in rural areas with sparser populations, they must deal with higher supply costs and limited distributors compared to big box stores.

“To tackle this, we work hard to negotiate directly with our suppliers and sometimes even pick up products ourselves to avoid extra fees,” he says.

Another challenge is the growth of chain-owned dollar stores popping up throughout the county.

“At Trombley's Market, we have no hard feelings about the Dollar Store opening just down the road. They offer an assortment of products that we simply don’t carry, and we see them as serving a different need,” he says. “Instead of trying to beat them at their own game, we concentrate on what we do best: offering a warm, personal touch that comes from our deep roots in the community and a legacy built by our family.” 

Continuing His Family's Legacy

Trombley does not mark his prosperity with store expansion or sales figures, but rather with customer satisfaction. When local folks return repeatedly to chat, come on the holidays when no one else is open, and when they shop because of a neighbor’s recommendation, this is what defines success for him.

Interior of Trombley's Country Market.

He builds the business through word of mouth and maintains the market’s reputation for having a welcoming atmosphere. He takes customers’ suggestions seriously and uses their feedback to evolve the business. Trombley is also active within the community, supporting local events, community fundraisers, and sports teams.

One story that sticks out to Trombley is about a woman who visited the market when her husband was extremely ill. Since her brother had passed away, a regular at the store for years, she did not have many people to talk to.

“She spent hours with us, just talking about everything, sharing her worries, and letting us be there for her in whatever way we could. She told us that, after spending time with us, she finally understood why her brother loved coming to Trombley's Market so much. It reminded us that our connections with people run deep.” After her husband got better, the couple frequented the store, and their neighbors began to visit after hearing their recommendation.

Nathan and Ethan will continue the family legacy into the future, ensuring their country establishment does not go out of business like others in the county.

“Our dedication to keeping this place a friendly spot where people can feel at home will never change,” he says. “We are always looking for ways to grow, adapt, and make sure we are offering what the community needs.”