Hillsdale’s State Street Market permanently closed its doors after running the business took more time and energy than what owner Vivian Frudakis said she expected.
Frudakis announced the market’s closure Feb. 28 on its Facebook page, adding that she is looking into continuing the food service portion of her business. The building at 146 State St., which was renovated when Frudakis purchased it in 2013, is for sale, and several people have expressed interest in the property.
“I’m sad; I loved going there,” Frudakis said. “At the same time, I’m relieved.”
She said she learned about the challenges of starting her own business and just how time-consuming it could be. Daily, she spent nine to 10 hours at the market.
“It’s just much more than we anticipated,” Frudakis said. “For me, personally, it took too much time and energy.”
In particular, Frudakis said she found running the business with both a deli and convenience store to be more than expected.
Nonetheless, Frudakis said she loved making and serving food, adding that even since State Street Market closed its doors, she’s had several requests to cater events. She said she will not unless she has a commercial kitchen.
“I’m keeping my options open,” Frudakis said. “I do miss the food aspect part of it.”
State Street Market’s products and services were inspired by its community, Frudakis said. She made all her sandwiches and desserts in house and from fresh ingredients, favoring locally grown foods. She named several of her creations for cities in Hillsdale County, including the Mosherville and Moscow sandwiches.
The owner said she took pride in her product from start finish, serving sandwiches in a clear container on checkered paper with a pickle and a mint.
“I put a lot of care in what we made there and how we treated people,” Frudakis said. “It was like a little complete meal presented in a loving manner.”
Frudakis quoted from a commenter on the shop’s Facebook post about its closure: “It gave a big-town feel in a small-town place.”
Carrot cake and chicken salad — which people wanted to “buy by the pound,” Frudakis said — were house favorites.
When Frudakis purchased the building that formerly was a shop selling mostly cigarettes and liquor, she updated it, adding counters and indoor seating.
Frudakis’ husband — Anthony, associate professor of art at Hillsdale College — said he loved to hear from people how much they loved his wife’s food.
“I am extremely proud of the wonderful food Vivian made for the community and incredibly impressed with how quickly she learned a new business and how hard she worked,” Anthony Frudakis said. “It was a terrific experience for me learning more about the food business as well as the opportunity it gave me to meet some wonderful people.”
Frequenters of State Street Market said they would miss Vivian Frudakis’ food and the small-town restaurant feel.
“Her food was delicious,” said Claudia Gillette, aide to the athletic director. “She’s very professional, but she’s just a really nice woman. I’m sad to hear it’s closing. I wish her well.”
Although State Street Market closed, Frudakis, who has almost 10 years of experience in catering, said she is thankful for the patrons who have supported her.
“The memories are always seeing the joy in people’s faces or hearing the wonderful comments from people on how much they enjoyed it,” Vivian Frudakis said.
This story was updated March 31 to correct a statement mentioning Anthony Frudakis painted the gas station mural on the side of State Street Market’s building. The painting was actually commissioned in 2007 and done by a student from the Cleveland Institute of Art while Rick Raeff owned the market from 2003 to 2011.
