Published: January 09, 2010 09:57 pm      

Promoting local goods

Twelve Mile couples revamp, expand The Old Mill

TWELVE MILE — Hoping to benefit community members and Cass County farmers, two Twelve Mile couples celebrated the grand opening of their new business on Jan 2.

Beth and Scott Jellison, along with Andrea and Kevin Offenberger, reopened The Old Mill at 6512E Ind. 16. with several changes and big plans for the upcoming year.

The business was previously opened from 2001 until 2007, according to Scott, selling grocery items and pizza.

Before new ownership, the business used to sell grocery items and some pizza.

“But not to the level we are hoping to take it,” said Scott. “We decided to buy this property in October. We wanted to revamp it and bring back the pizza and staple items.”

The Jellisons have prior business experience, which they hope will help with successfully operating The Old Mill.

“We had a pizza business in Montpelier,” Scott said. “We moved up here about 15 years ago.”

In addition to the pizza business, the couple are also partners with Brian and Gina Shafer for Walnut Valley Bison, which is a full-spectrum bison operation that sells custom cut choices of meat to customers, wholesale distributors, restaurants and meat markets.

“We have always done something,” Scott said.

The new owners decided to start off selling the staple items such as milk, bread and cheese. In addition, they wanted to offer local farmers a place to market their product.

The general store sells a variety of locally raised frozen meat, including bison from Walnut Valley Bison, beef and pork from Passion Farms, and chicken and turkey from Brubaker Produce and Poultry.

The main focus for now is to build up the pizza and then move into bulk food, which will be set up in the other half of the building. The building is 40 by 60 feet, but the owners are only using half the space until they become established.

Another goal is to begin selling fresh produce year round from area farmers, including those who use greenhouses to grow in the winter. The owners would also like to attract the local apple orchard and Kuns Kountry Kitchen to sell items as well.

“We just want to provide local farmers with a place to sell local products,” Scott emphasized. “They can raise the animals and do what they do best and we can market the product for them.”

In the next month, the owners also plan to begin selling deli meats and ham salad.

The Old Mill employs seven workers and the biggest task so far has been training the employees to make sure there is consistency and quality in the pizza product.

The business offers customers fresh pizza, breadsticks, a variety of eight-inch subs, coffee and fountain drinks. They hope to offer deli sandwiches soon and during the summer will cook out. Scott said the owners hope to use a walk-up window to serve customers ice cream during the summer months.

Future plans also include the possibility of selling flowers, shrubs and mulch.

With the new store, the owners hope to see more community involvement. Just on the opening day, The Old Mill kept steady throughout the morning and into lunch hours. Scott expected the evening to pick up even more.

“Locally, they don’t have anything,” Scott said. “There’s nothing within a 12- to 15-mile radius. If you need a gallon of milk, you would have to drive 25 miles round trip.”

Scott hopes the store can help save time and gas money. The owners also hope to attract residents from Logansport, Rochester and Peru, since it is located centrally around all three towns.

“Our goal is to stay competitive with prices,” Scott added.

To get things ready, the entire building received a makeover.

The Jellisons and Offenbergers decided to go with a rustic look and used salvaged timber from Twelve Mile Company Cannon Salvage. The bathroom is also known as “The Outhouse,” which adds to the rustic feel.

“The girls did 90 percent of the work,” Scott said. “They cut all the lumber, did the design and had all the cabinets built. They took the idea and ran with it.”

The owners are glad to see the business finally open and hope the local community will support it and Cass County farmers.

“It feels really good to be open,” said Scott. “Instead of turning wrenches, we can flip pizza.”

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com



New business

Name: The Old Mill

Address: 6512E Ind. 16.

Phone: 574-664-2000

Store Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. if home game) Friday and Saturday; 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday; Closed Monday.

Service hours: Lunch: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday- Saturday; Dinner: 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 4 to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. if home game) Friday and Saturday; 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday.