Dover family takes over Dundee Marketplace

Members of a Dover family recently took ownership of the Dundee Marketplace with a goal of continuing to help the community. Daren Maurer and his daughters and sons-in-law, Korie and Ryan Haswell and Kodie and Hunter Duerig, began operating the full-service grocery store and restaurant July 21.

The 8,000 square foot building, at the intersection of state Route 93 and state Route 516 in Dundee, was built in 2022 by Tobie and Martha Swartzentruber to serve area residents who had no place close to shop. It also houses Café 93, which serves breakfast, a variety of sandwiches and coffees.

“They've been great mentors to make sure that we know what we're doing,” Korie Haswell said.

The family has not operated a grocery store before, but they have much experience in running other businesses. Each family member has their own area of expertise they bring to the store. They have always been close.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to work together as a family. We're all involved, and we like to do stuff as a family,” Maurer said.

Not only do they serve their customers, but they also help others by sourcing many products locally including produce. They like to sell items in season.

The store sells many of the same bulk goods that are offered in Sugarcreek and Berlin and would like to serve more tourists who come to the area. Typically, in addition to locals, they’ve had visitors to Dundee Falls stop by.

Other products include fresh baked goods, canning goods, frozen foods, gluten-free foods, jams and jellies and even a hardware section.

“We have a full-service, to order deli,” Maurer said. “We have meats and cheeses you can have sliced to your order and however much you want.”

Other prepared products are made in house including salsa, potato salad, coleslaw, pasta salads and more.

“I primarily oversee the kitchen. I was the kitchen manager at the Manor Restaurant in Strasburg for years before it closed,” Ryan Haswell said. “That's my area of expertise and I guess you could say my comfort zone.”

Maurer, who also owns Softies in Dover, oversees ice cream. It’s an area of the business that is set to see a major expansion. Currently, cones, sundaes, and milkshakes in limited flavors are available.

Korie Haswell does social media for the store and helps with hiring. Kodie Duerig oversees customer service, making sure everything is running smoothly, and that the store is a place people want to come. She also sources new products. Hunter Duerig’s focus is on bookwork, ordering, back of the house tasks and scheduling.

Everyone pitches in to open extra registers if customers are waiting for the checkout.

“We all rotate in so there is someone here all the time,” Ryan Haswell said.

Visitors will be surprised at all that is offered at the store and restaurant. A breakfast buffet is served Saturday mornings from 8 to 10:30 a.m. and sandwiches include burgers, chicken, ham, Trail bologna and Swiss cheese, and bacon, lettuce and tomato. Sides which are air-fried, include a variety of fries and onion rings.

The café serves signature coffee drinks including latte, frappe, macchiato and cappuccino drinks. Tea, hot chocolate, and real fruit smoothies are available. The store also sells a variety of popular local brands of whole bean coffee.

The store will holdi a special Fall Festival Sept. 6 with live music, hot dogs and burgers, face painting, pumpkins, mums and more.

The Dundee Marketplace and Café 93 are located at 6783 SR 93 in Dundee. Hours for the store are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The business is closed Sundays.

For more information visit them on Facebook at Dundee Marketplace.