March 29, 2024

The Main Man At Main Street Market

July 8, 2016

The team at Main Street Market: Executive Chef John Chambers, owners Gary Kosch and Wendy Kosch, and General Manager Katie Buckler.

Gary Kosch might blanch at the label, but he is in fact the main man at the Main Street Market, as well as several other establishments. The longtime businessman/entrepreneur owns or co-owns numerous restaurants in the Detroit area, plus The Boathouse and the Agave Grill restaurants in Traverse City; Trout Town Tavern & Eatery in Kalkaska; and now, three facilities in the Alpine Village of Gaylord.

So yes, he’s the main man, but he doesn’t see it that way. He prefers to share the accolades with his staff and his family. His wife, Wendy, is an interior designer, and he’s partnered with his brother Gordie and Gordie’s wife, Julie, on their downstate endeavors, as well as with his brother Doug in Traverse City.

And while he doesn’t seek the spotlight himself, he’s bullish on all his establishments — though which restaurant is uppermost in his thoughts depends on that day’s receipts: “My favorite is the one making the most money,” he said.

In Gaylord, that means one of a trio: the Alpine Tavern & Eatery, a sports bar and grill on Otsego Drive, one block south of Main Street; the Otsego Grand Event Center at 610 S. Wisconsin Ave., capable of handling parties of 25 to 200 as well as off-site catering; and the newest addition, the Main Street Market. “It’s the location,” said Kosch of the café and market located on the northeast corner of West Main and North Court streets.

It is actually many things to many people: A gourmet market, yes, but also a wine bar. A café. A coffee shop. A deli. And an eatery.

That lattermost boasts three separate menus: for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The first features coffee beans from Keweenaw Coffee Works in the Upper Peninsula, alongside a slim selection of breakfast sandwiches and sweets.

The offerings expand at lunch, with a variety of artisan soups; salads such as kale and quinoa with a lemon vinaigrette, and a roasted beet and arugula with maple balsamic; and sandwiches like croque-monsieur, chicken pesto Panini, the Audrain beef (named for the building’s origin as Audrain Hardware) and lemon caper salmon melt.

In the evening, they shop switches gears with a dinner menu featuring appetizers such as charcuterie and duck tenders, small plates like bison meatloaf and pork ribeye, and various flatbreads. The comestibles are complemented by craft beers, cocktails and an extensive wine list.

Executive Chef John Chambers said his motto is “fresh and local.” He said he supports as many local growers as he can and brings in and serves items as quickly as possible. As an example, he points to one of the daily specials, fresh fish from Lake Superior: “It was caught the day before,” he said.

If you’re on the go, you can grab something from the deli case or wander through the selection of jams, spreads, crackers, oils, vinegar, cured meats, imported cheeses and other gourmet items.

Why Gaylord? Like others, Kosch said after vacationing in the area as a child he wanted to return. And he saw business opportunities there, starting with the Alpine Tavern & Eatery.

“I’ve been in the restaurant business 35 years. We have multiple locations in the Detroit area,” Kosch said. “I started in northern Michigan with [the former] Gordie Howe’s [now Agave Mexican Grill]. In Gaylord, I started 12 years ago with the tavern. Last year I did the Otsego Grand Event Center. This year, the restaurant [Main Street Market].”

Not that he necessarily intended to keep going. “I originally retired 10 years ago,” he said with a grin.

Though he and his wife recently relocated to Traverse City, he’s often on site at his Gaylord properties. In fact, he intends to build a small apartment above the market, as well as offices. Another possible option is a rooftop garden for herbs. That’s already a work in progress, as Chef Chambers and his staff tend to some parsley, thyme and basil in pots on the roof.

Before its current incarnation, the Main Street Market was a used furniture store, and, originally, Audrain Hardware. When Kosch had the building stripped down, workers found some of the original brick walls in good shape, as well as the original ceiling. “We pulled down the drop ceiling and found tin ceilings up front,” said Katie Buckler, the general manager.

The decor matches past with present, mixing an industrial feel with modern, urban aesthetics. Kosch credits his wife, Wendy, for the tasteful touches, noting she was the designer for the facility. Up front, the wooden door and gears from the oldest freight elevator in Michigan add even more rustic charm.

Kosch is happy with his latest endeavor. Patrons are keeping it busy and are no doubt pleased that he failed at retirement.

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