MALONE — A local couple retired this week after owning and operating BMJ Midway Market and Deli on Route 11 east of the village for nearly 16 years.
Joanne Hazen, who owned the store with her husband, Brett, said the couple purchased the store on December 1, 2008.
“We used to stop by here all the time, and when we heard it was up for sale, Brett was very interested in it and talked to Tommy Arnold about it,” Joanne Hazen said. says Arnold, adding that he helped the couple set up a new business.
“Tommy was a lot of fun to work with. He definitely helped us get to this point,” Brett Hazen said.
Brett said the previous owner of the market was Tom Arnold of Malone.
“Prior to Tommy, it was owned by Mike and Tom Soulier and they owned it for 32 years,” Joan says. “In fact, Mike taught us the original Michigan recipe here.”
Brett said the market has experienced several changes over the past 16 years.
“I would say it has undergone many transformations,” he said. “At first it was a small grocery store, where you could walk in and buy a sandwich and take it home.”
Joan said the couple expanded the menu, updated the kitchen with new equipment and added a dining area.
“There might be pots or something left over from before, but all the equipment has been replaced,” Brett said.
In addition to food, the couple began selling fuel in March 2020, Brett said.
“The more the property value went up, the more money we made,” he said.
The couple said they will miss seeing their regulars, but their decision to retire was motivated by a desire to spend more time with their grandchildren.
“What made us hit the retirement button, so to speak, is that our two sons are in Pennsylvania,” Brett said. “We have two of the most beautiful grandchildren, as any grandparent will tell you. But they’re growing up without us, and they’re the ones who leave the store before we can.” It’s been difficult. We bought a campervan and we want to travel and spend time together.”
Brett said when the couple went to Florida to pick up their camper, they had to stop in Georgia, and Joanne had to order a lot of fuel from a store. He added that the couple is planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore and New Orleans after they retire.
Joan said the couple would like to retire while they are still mobile and would like to enjoy some domestic travel.
“A few months ago, a man told me that I was still able to move and could work for a few more years,” Brett said. “The whole idea is to be able to enjoy retirement and not wait until I’m stuck. I’d like to be able to walk on the beach. I think I still have a few good years left.”
Joanne said the couple was looking forward to retirement but would miss their staff and customers.
“We’ve made a lot of good friends over the years,” she said. “We had some great customers. We’re going to miss the people.”
Brett said the two learned a lot about running a business along the way.
“We had a great staff,” Joanne Hazen said.
Brett said the staff was instrumental in the market’s success.
“We’ve had good workers over the years, some of whom have stayed with us for 10 years. We’re very fortunate to have good workers,” he said.
He added that the couple officially retired on Friday and the store’s new owners have taken over management.
Looking back over the past 16 years, Joanne said her favorite part of the market is the people.
He said the market had been open for years before Brett and Joanne bought the business.
“It’s been Midway for over 70 years,” he said, adding that the store’s name, BMJ, stands for Brett, Michael and Joanne.
Joanne said the M in BMJ stands for the couple’s son, Michael.
“He helped us get the business off the ground and take off. He was instrumental in that,” Brett said, adding that the Midway part of the market’s name goes to Howard Blanchard. He said it came from.
“The story I was told was that he was in the war (World War II) and was stationed at Midway Island, and when he came back he named Midway Island Midway Market. ” he said.
Brett believes the business started as a gas station.
“That’s what I was told before Howard, so I don’t really understand,” he said.
