Toski Sands

Sept. 21, 2008

For the past 40 years Toski Sands has been serving up the best in choice meats, fresh produce and hard-to-find ethnic goods in its handy location between Petoskey and Harbor Springs. Named after Northern Michigan’s recreational offerings – “to ski” and “sands” – Toski Sands was built by Dale Bradley and George Gerrie, who opened the separate market and party store businesses in April 1968.
Current owners Sue and Keith McGlaughlin are happy to continue the stores’ traditions of offering a wide variety of product, friendly service and small-store convenience.
“One of the nicest things about a market this size is we pack so many great items into such a small space,” says Keith McGlaughlin. “You can pull up to the door, we’ll guide you through the store if you want and even bring your groceries to your car. It’s the old-school way, with a total focus on customer service.”

FRESH CHOICES
“Right now the market has really been known for having 100 percent top choice meat – some of the finest cuts you can find anyplace,” says McGlaughlin.
Popular items include four kinds of jerky – two beef and two turkey. “It’s really moist, nice stuff,” says McGlaughlin. “We’re also known for all our house-made sausages and our ground chuck is ground fresh daily, all day long.”
Try bratwurst, polish, mild Italian, hot Italian or andouille sausage, a spicy blend perfect for New Orleans-style recipes.
Organic meat selections are offered, too.
“We do have a natural steak which has been raised without any hormones or antibiotics,” says McGlaughlin, “and we carry Bell & Evans (all natural, air chilled) chicken which is very sought after. We also carry Miller chicken, which is outstanding Amish chicken.”
“Our butcher – Bud Winters – is 73 years old and has been cutting meat for 51 years. People come just because of the fact they know him; he looks at meat and if he doesn’t think it’s perfect, he sends it back. He’s been with the store for 17 years, and he trains all our meat staff.”
“We also have the best selection of fresh fish and seafood,” says McGlaughlin. “We have it flown in on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.”
A live lobster tank is in place and seafood offerings include U-10 scallops, mussels, oysters, clams, shrimp, Ahi tuna, Tasmanian salmon, halibut, sea bass and tilapia. Locally, fresh whitefish and walleye arrive every day from Cross Fisheries in Charlevoix.
“We focus on getting as much local product as possible, all summer long and through the season. We have two sources that provide us with local produce and it’s just been huge.”

READY-TO-EAT
At the market, patrons can buy all the fixings for a quickly prepared meal, even produce.
“Every day, all produce is hand-washed and trimmed,” says McGlaughlin. “You can just grab it out of the case and eat it.” And busy families will appreciate the market’s new focus.
“Right now we’re focusing on ready-to-eat items,” continues McGlaughlin. “We have fresh rotisserie chicken daily, baby-back ribs already cooked and ready to go, smoked chicken breasts.”
For more than 30 years, Toski Sands has been serving up its famous smoked whitefish spread, and the store also carries over 80 different cheeses to choose from, including many hard-to-find varieties.
Top-of-the-line Boar’s Head meat is available for slicing in the market and comes standard on sandwiches in the deli.
When you’re done grocery shopping at the market, head over to the party store and deli to complete your planning, with party supplies, beverages, chips and more.
Sandwiches, made with Boar’s Head meats and Breadworks bread, are offered, with meals-to-go featured Monday through Friday.
“We do a very good lunch business, and people can call ahead and order and we can save specials for dinner, too,” says McGlaughlin.
Meatloaf, a hot turkey sandwich, Tuscany pork loin, Italian grinders, lasagna, steak sandwich or a French dip are often featured.
Eight soups are available every day: chili, chicken noodle and Champagne cream of mushroom, with five other rotating kinds, along with six homemade salads: Italian pasta, tuna pasta, potato salad, chicken salad, chicken salad with cherries and fresh garden salad.
“Everything is homemade from scratch,” says McGlaughlin. “We don’t buy pre-made foods. We also make our quiche right from scratch here, four available all the time.”
Party catering is also an option. “We will prepare foods here for pickup,” says McGlaughlin, “but we’re pulling back from deliveries.”

DON’T FORGET THE DRINKS
“The beer selection’s probably the largest north of Traverse City… over 145 different beers,” says McGlaughlin. Customers can create their own six packs.
“I have over 780 choices of wine, and they range from $6 up to $280,” he continues. “On the wine we also offer three tiers of discounts: five percent off on three bottles, 10 percent off on six and 15 percent off on a case. That’s mix and match, and off sale pricing also. We sell a lot of cases of wine from here because of that special.”
Behind the counter is one of the largest collections of liquor in the area.
“I have about 500 selections of liquor and they’re all at state minimums,” says McGlaughlin. “We have a lot of special orders on liquor and wine.”
And to top off the night, try an after dinner cigar.
“I have a six-foot humidor with a wide selection of cigars,” says McGlaughlin. “I’m learning more about it; I listen to customers and that helps me fill it up with what they’re looking for.”
The McGlaughlins have honored many traditions in the store though the years, but they’ve also found a few changes beneficial.
“One of the best changes we’ve made is we’ve extended the hours,” says McGlaughlin. “We’re open ‘til eight; before, we weren’t catching people on their way home.”
New products have been added based on what customers have been looking for, and cleaning and updating equipment has been ongoing.
The biggest change is a long time coming and will happen this winter.
“The party store and market are going to merge in January of next year,” reveals McGlaughlin. “With our remodel, two stores will be all one.”

Visit Toski Sands Market, Deli and Party Store at 2292 M-119 in Petoskey. Market hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sunday. Call 231-347-1571. Party Store hours are 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday. Call 231-347-9631. Or visit them online at www.toskisandsmarket.com