Allegan is a small, quiet town of about 5,000 hardy souls, tucked up against the Kalamazoo River. Approaching the city on M-89, one of the first signs of entering downtown is the truss bridge, built in 1886, that crosses the river and leads into the center of the city. Take a quick left after crossing the bridge onto Brady Street, and the first to draw your eye are the brightly colored umbrellas over sidewalk tables outside a specialty market.
Montage Market, located at 137 Brady Street, is owned by Dan and Marcia Wagner. The couple also own one of Allegan’s most popular restaurants,
The Grill House, and a catering service and banquet hall inside a renovated grain silo called, aptly,
The Silo. They opened Montage Market in spring of 2010, and the store has done a bustling business since.
“There aren’t many places like Montage,” says Monica Reich, manager of the store. “We offer many unique Michigan craft beers and wines from Michigan wineries, but we also have a deli with fresh items daily.”
The historic building where Montage Market is located was built in 1890, originally the Wedge Office Machines location. The Wagners gave its historic value and charm extra attention, keeping that sense of a grocery store from a day gone by. The store even has its original wood floors, polished to a fine sheen.
Featured are Michigan wines rating 90 or above, primarily at affordable prices of no more than $20 per bottle. The owners give priority to smaller area vineyards, but also stock national and international wines. Another nook in the store is filled with more than 100 varieties of craft beers, including seasonal releases and limited series.
Ever-changing items in the deli section offer sandwiches, salads, soups and sweets, with an impressive array of hummus in eight flavors, free to taste in the store. Enjoy your lunch at one of the in-store tables or at the sidewalk tables, along with a freshly brewed coffee from the front counter.
“We use a simple pour-over method for single cup brewing,” says Reich. “It’s similar to the French press, for a richer flavor.” The beans, she says, come from Ferris Coffee and Nuts in Grand Rapids.
Customers may order custom-made gift baskets from any of the products available in the store, or select a Michigan-made only basket. Along with the Michigan wines and beers, other Michigan products available are Wild Thyme dry soups, Brownwood Farms, Kalamazoo Kettle Corn, Blueberry Store, St. Julian, and McClure’s. Handmade pottery and soaps make wonderful gifts or home accents.
Under the Montage brand are Italian aged balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oils that pair with the several varieties of fresh baked bread that arrive daily, ready for slicing and dipping.
Montage Market is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 269.355.1655 for more information.
Writer: Zinta Aistars, Second Wave Media
Source: Monica Reich. Montage Market
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