R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press In the process of filling orders and moving inventory, Logan Cox wheels a hand truck stacked high at Mel’s Lawn, Garden and Feed Center.

EDITOR NOTE: The Daily Press will be featuring a series of articles on local businesses, highlighting their history and what makes them unique. The series will run on a regular basis in the Daily Press.

— — —

ESCANABA — Now a “one-stop shop” for area farmers, Mel’s Lawn, Garden and Feed Center was founded by a couple who themselves were chicken farmers in Schaffer before opening a feed store in town.

Mel and Anne (“Lillan”) Taylor had a large chicken coop in Schaffer over 60 years ago. “They were the main egg suppliers in the area,” reported Carolyn Taylor, their daughter-in-law and CFO at Mel’s. In 1976, a fire destroyed the coop, and the Taylors shifted gears.

In 1977, Mel and Lillan opened a feed store in Escanaba. That original location, said Glen Taylor — their son and the store’s current owner — was located on Stephenson Ave. in a building that’s now part of Mr. Tire. The business was officially incorporated in November of 1980.

A few years before Mel’s moved to its current location, the operation that had been there — Escanaba Feed Store — went out of business.

Glen said Mel’s bought the building in either ’80 or ’82.

“We fixed it up, built it into a store — it wasn’t a store at all; it was just a feed mill, a warehouse,” said Glen.

They moved into the facility in 1986. Glen purchased the business from his parents in 1992.

Mel’s Lawn, Garden and Feed Center has always had a focus on feed for all types of animals — from barn animals to pets to wildlife. Customers know they can come to find whatever niche, specialty dog food they may be looking for — and both Carolyn and Glen said that’s actually an industry that’s changed dramatically.

“The first premium dog food was Iams Chunks and Minichunks,” Glen recalled. “Green bag, 50 pounds. I was a kid, but I remember … the retail on a 50-pound bag of Iams Minichunks was $19.99.” He said that when it came out, Mel doubted whether anyone would pay that; now, bags half that size regularly cost more than twice as much.

“The higher and the better quality pet foods have been huge; that’s been a nice niche,” said Carolyn. “The more and more people love on their pets, we’ve become a great place to go for quality dog food. … It’s wonderful how people take care of their animals.”

That sentiment extends to all the other supplies that go along with ownership of dogs, cats, horses and more.

Carolyn said that Mel’s get corn delivered by semi from Wisconsin and picks up oats and other grain from various places, including the Garden Peninsula and a larger mill in Bark River. From the shipments that fill the towering grain bins on the west side of Mel’s, staff drop, bag, and fill orders.

Between the employees out back and in-store, Mel’s has a staff of about ten, plus the Taylors. Glen and Carolyn’s son, Sam, is a manager, and the plan is that he will eventually take over running the place — its third generation.

Another manager, Zach Truitt, has been working there for over 15 years, Carolyn said, and has been an instrumental part of Mel’s.

“We’ve got a great bunch of staff right now,” said Carolyn. “It’s wonderful. It’s hard to get good employees, and when you get them, you’re just very excited,” she laughed.

There’s also Rosie, Sam’s dog. With a golden-red coat, dark eyes, and friendly but calm demeanor, she’s a popular pup.

Spring is the busiest at Mel’s with the arrival of lawn and garden season.

“Your farmers are planting, your hobby gardeners are planting, everybody’s planting. You’re getting your yards in order, so you got yard clean-up,” said Carolyn. “Spring is by far the busiest followed by fall with hunting season. It’s kind of fun.”

Growth has been gradual, said Glen, as Mel’s expanded from just feed and lawn and garden supplies to other associated materials to help the farmer. They also have a propane filling station.

One addition that’s become a big part of the business is footwear. They have a large selection of work boots — insulated, steel-toed, rubber, and so on — for all seasons and jobs, for both men and women.

Mel’s Lawn, Garden and Feed Center is open from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.