Brandon Twp.- Just in time for Christmas, a new gourmet food and specialty shop is opening in the area.
The Ortonville Smokehouse, 910 S. Ortonville Road, Suite 100, will open Dec. 1. The store is located in the former Oakridge Cabinets building, in front of Maximum Real Estate and Rison Construction.
The store, owned by Ron and Lisa Padgett, will have a variety of fresh beef, chicken and pork, as well as Boarshead deli meats and cheeses. Other deli offerings will include potato salad, macaroni salad, and coleslaw. A wide array of gourmet jams, jellies, dips, rubs, and hot sauces will be available. Pastries created at different bakeries in the area will be offered. The shop also has a selection of Joseph Schmidt truffles.
This is the Padgetts? first business venture. They were inspired by Country Smokehouse, an Almont business owned by Steven and Sue Francis, and whose products The Ortonville Smokehouse will carry, including award-winning venison, sausages, salamis, jerkies, snack sticks, hot dogs and kielbasa.
‘We both love to cook and we’re in the kitchen all the time,? says Lisa Padgett. ‘We can help customers have a great dining experience. They can get what they need for a nice meal and not have to spend a lot of time on it.?
The Padgetts plan to have a kitchen at the shop in the next few months, where Ron will make homemade cheesecakes, and different meals will be offered, including possibly southern fried chicken with mashed potatoes, or meatloaf and red potatoes. In the future, they hope to become licensed for imported beer and wine sales.
‘We’re unique,? Ron Padgett said. ‘We’re not a grocery store.?
Lisa Padgett added, ‘We want to be a place that people remember for specific items and a place they enjoy and want to keep coming back to. I love to see familiar faces. Everyone here has been so warm and welcoming.?
The Ortonville Smokehouse can special order items and will create custom gift baskets. The shop is open from 9 a.m.- 7 p.m. seven days a week. Details: (248) 627-3700.