Whitaker's Market

Duane Whitaker was interested in growing, cooking, and eating tasty and wholesome food throughout childhood, and enthusiastically raised his own family in the same tradition. Somewhere along the way he began scheming of ways to share the rich heritage of food with a broader audience, and when the Whitaker Family opened the 640 square foot space at 810 Water Avenue in June of 2010, it was calculated to be a step in that direction. It was an optimistic undertaking; even if the business plan was a trifle sketchy.

The initial offering was home-grown vegetables and strawberries, home-made baked goods, local meats and dairy products, bulk food, and locally handcrafted items. Grocery items, housewares, herbs and supplements, and house-made peanut butter gradually appeared on the shelves over the next several years, but the limited retail space presented an insurmountable difficulty in building a business that was sustainable long-term. The discount groceries that were added in 2009 created a stronger draw, but there was not enough space to make a real difference in the bleak outlook of The Market.

Whitaker’s Market moved to the current location in May of 2010. The 1600 square feet displayed the same products as before, including a much larger variety of discount foods. Since that time we have steadily added more products, and the space that seemed so large 2 ½ years ago now feels uncomfortably crowded. We have hopes to expand again someday, and continue working toward the original goal of making home-made food available to the Hillsboro community; potentially including a deli, bakery, coffee shop, and lunch counter.