Chippewa County residents have a new store to frequent in the Village of Boyd; the Boyd Outlet Food Store opened in mid-November and offers almost anything the larger grocery stores carry on their shelves. Co-owners, Ivan Ruzic and Jeff Zais hope to offer area residents a unique and old-fashioned place to shop. “We’ve got everything from syrup to milk to freshly-cut meats,” Ruzic explained.

            Ruzic worked in the construction field for over 26 years and decided a change was needed. With that in mind, he started a grocery delivery business several years ago and continues that portion of the business to today. “We deliver everything from steaks to other foods,” Ruzic explained. While Ruzic had the delivery business, Zais had a catering business in the Boyd area. When the two decided to combine their businesses, the Boyd Outlet Food Store was opened. Both wholesale and retail customers are welcomed to the store.

            The store features two walk-in coolers and one walk-in freezer. “Our store carries all of the essentials; freshly-cut meats are going to be our big strength,” Ruzic said. Although they have only been open approximately two months, more and more people are starting to frequent the store. “People are really starting to find us,” Ruzic said. The store has advertised in area newspapers, but most business comes from customer word-of-mouth. According to Ruzic, local people have really been encouraging the business.

            Another source of encouragement for the Boyd Outlet Food Store was the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation. In the process of putting together the business, Ruzic and Zais turned to CCEDC for loan advice. “Charlie Walker was unbelievable to work with; he really knows his stuff,” Ruzic commented. “Charlie and his office staff really helped us put everything together for the business,” Ruzic continued.

            Both owners appreciate all of the local help they received when they opened the store. In return, they are also trying to support local businesses. “We buy as much as we can locally, including both milk and cheese,” Ruzic said. “Our motto is to support those who support you,” he continued. By keeping things local, Ruzic hopes to provide value for customers. The store offers weekly specials for customers, including special deals on freshly-cut meats like pork chops and ground beef. “We really try to give them the best deal we can,” he explained.

            As for the future of the store, Ruzic and Zais both hope things continue to go well and more customers continue to find the store. “I hope that in five years, the store is really built up and we can possibly expand,” Ruzic commented. The owners know that it will take more hard work and dedication to get to that point. However, they do have advice for those looking to open a business in Chippewa County. “Work with Charlie Walker at the CCEDC. The work he did for us was phenomenol,” Ruzic concluded.