By Lisa Carolin
Although all may appear the same, Chelsea Farmers Supply, located at 122 Jackson St. in downtown Chelsea, has new owners.
They are Tobie Brown and Joe Schlenke, a couple who live in Grass Lake, and officially took over the business on Jan. 1.
When the previous owners- HK Leonard and Greg Raye– decided they wanted to retire in 2022, Brown and Schlenke had jobs and didn’t think of buying the business as an option.
“In August of this past year, they mentioned that they had not found a buyer and that they thought we might be a good fit,” said Brown. “We were ready for a life change, and made the decision to pursue funding and purchased the business around that time.”
Brown and Schlenke have always shopped at Chelsea Farmers Supply and became regulars when they started their first backyard flock of chickens.
“We were looking for a local supplier of our specific brand of feed, and HK Leonard, the previous owner, offered to keep it in stock for us,” said Brown. “It is so rare to get that level of personal service. We were hooked.”
Brown’s work experience is mainly in food service and hospitality, and Schlenk’s background is in hospitality and theater production.
The couple does not anticipate making any major changes to the store. Their plan is to maintain the character and charm cultivated by the previous owners.
“The spirit and traditions at Chelsea Farmers Supply are what hooked us in the first place, so the emphasis on feed, seed, soil, and farm and garden supply is not going to change,” said Brown. “We have a passion for working with local suppliers and farmers, sustainability, and homesteading crafts and practices. We would like to bring in a few things that speak to that. We are so excited to continue the legacy of this wonderful store.”
Chelsea Farmers Supply’s winter hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
