A new country market offering Amish baked goods, smoked meats, salads, and more, is set to open in May. Shorts Front Porch will be located in the former Integrative Health Services building at 354 W. Chicago Road in Coldwater, next to Short’s Rootbeer Stand.
Short’s Front Porch will be a drop-in only retail location with a wide variety of donuts, homemade pies, cinnamon rolls, jams, jellies, homemade breads, and other baked goods from Yoder’s Country Market of Centreville. Smoked meats including pulled pork, barbecue ribs, and wings will also be available. Owners Ted and Amy Short decided to open the country market after receiving a flood of positive feedback from customers at two of their three existing retail businesses, Short’s on the Water and the Lamplighter Cocktail and Burger Bar, where they began offering select Amish baked goods for sale November of last year. Amy Short explains, “We sold pies during Thanksgiving and Christmas using only requests from my Facebook page. And we already use Yoder breads at the Lamplighter”.
The Front Porch will feature a drive-through and grow to incorporate more Michigan-made products in addition to what they bring in from Yoder’s. But it doesn’t stop there; they are interested in becoming a catering destination and creating a shared patio area with the Rootbeer Stand, the family’s third retail business. “We’re looking into opening up part of the store to offer products made in the community, and we’d like to expand into a one-stop catering shop for family events and graduation parties”, said Amy Short. Local artisans have already started to express interest in selling jams, jellies, and other goods out of the upcoming Front Porch. Ted and Amy Short have been operating businesses in Coldwater for 25 years. They currently own the Lamplighter Cocktail & Burger Bar, Short’s on the Water, Short’s Rootbeer Stand, and T.J. Rampit Leasing. The pair looks forward to their newest project.
According to Tim Hart, the City of Coldwater’s Business Recruiter “It was a natural fit for Short’s. Short’s Front Porch will be able to service all of their retail locations with products. When I approached them with the idea of bringing in Yoder’s products, they were excited and we worked all the details out to make it happen”. Hart added “We started work on this project in November and I am looking forward to the opening in May”.
Residents and community members can look forward to Short's Front Porch opening this May. Any questions should be directed to Audrey Tappenden at 517-279-6913 or [email protected]
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