Episode 158 // Jessi Mason of The Market & Mill

Aug 22

On today’s episode of the podcast we're with Jessi Mason of The Market & Mill in Anselmo, Nebraska (pop. 109). Jessi's sharing how she went from being a social worker with no business background to a grocery store owner, and her journey in learning new things like ordering groceries, profit margins, diversifying, and even how her social work background still plays a role. Plus, Jessi is getting creative and innovative to keep things as fresh and local as possible in the store, including turning part of the space into a coffee shop and community kitchen.

You’ll love how Jessi has jumped into this adventure of being a grocery store owner, and how this business has become such a hub for the community. While we were doing this interview, the place was buzzing the entire time with a steady stream of customers. Which, when you think about it, is truly incredible for a town of this size!

Scroll down to see the transformation Jessi and Andrew have brought to this space!

Listen right here or on these platforms:
APPLE | GOOGLE | SPOTIFY | STITCHER

“My husband and I always made this vow to each other that when we moved back, we would leave Anselmo better than when we came. That was our goal. And we wanted to show our kids that we’re proud of our town and we have to give back to our town to help it.”
- Jessi Mason

“One of my best friends and I jokingly say, everything’s figure-out-able. Most of the time I don’t know what we’re doing, and I’m the first to admit that, but there’s someone either in our community or online that does know how to do it. And you just have to have the courage to ask for help and also not be so prideful to ask for help.”
- Jessi Mason

“I think diversifying and adding as many things that you can do well under one roof that we call a grocery store is so important.”
- Jessi Mason

“I never in my wildest dreams thought we would be here doing this. But it’s such an honor. Small towns are so important and it’s such an honor for me to be able to continue growing Anselmo. Like incredibly humbling to be here and to be able to do that. I want people to see this store and this place as encouragement. We can do this. We can keep our small towns alive and thriving.
I value small town America so much and the people that come out of it, and it’s just incredibly exciting to me to think that people are starting to get on board. Seeing these little small towns with their own unique little bits, it’s exciting to me to know that we’re not gonna die, we’re gonna thrive. We need these small towns and these communities, and it’s exciting.”
- Jessi Mason

“I’m a dreamer. I’ve always been a dreamer. I truly believe that if you have a reason, a why, for doing something and it tugs at your heart strings so much that you can figure it out.”
- Jessi Mason

“My goal here is to honor the history. I firmly believe we have to honor the history in order to grow. We have to know where we came from to get where we’re going.”
- Jessi Mason

“I believe in strengths-based, so I believe everyone has a strength they should offer to the world. And sometimes we get caught up where you get in a job where you have to do all these things whether you like them or not. And I truly believe that if we find our strengths and base our jobs around those strengths, it’s making the world and our communities so much better. And it makes the little things that aren’t as fun in our jobs manageable because you’re focusing on your strengths and what you’re good at. I’ve always wanted this to be a place where people can use their strengths, and this can be a place where they can do that.”
- Jessi Mason