Nov. 16 – While it has become more difficult to pass on the family business, St. Joseph and the surrounding communities still have multi-generational family businesses dotting the landscape.
The Conway Center for Family Business notes that about 30 percent of family businesses transition to the second generation, but only about 12 percent will be viable by the third generation.
St. Joseph has several businesses that have overcome these odds and continue to serve the community. On the south side, for example, Marek’s Catering and Delicatessen, which is co-owned by a brother-sister duo, Walter and Elizabeth Marek.
Co-owner Elizabeth Marek stated that the company has been around since 1946, largely due to the hard work and values passed down from her parents to their children.
“My father dreamed of working in the food industry, and they had just gotten married,” Marek said. “We try to follow in our parents’ footsteps by always trying to get the best food at reasonable prices. Our parents instilled in us a good ethic of hard work. When you own your own business, there are a lot of long, hard hours .”
Marek also stated that the community has responded well to the hard work and quality she and her brother try to bring in their food and customer service.
According to Marek, some of their customers have been frequent visitors over the past 30 to 40 years, and even now it is not unusual to see the children and grandchildren of former customers passing by the deli.
Keeping a customer-oriented catering business going for so long takes hard work and dedication. Marek added that cooperation with other family members is also needed.
“My parents are deceased, but my brother Walter and I run the company together,” Marek said. “We get along well and play to each other’s strengths and get the job done.”
Another local family business on the north side of St. Joseph is now in its fifth generation. Meierhoffer Funeral and Crematorium recently celebrated its 130th anniversary.
Co-owner Todd Meierhoffer said as each generation passed from 1894 to the present, keeping the business in the family became more challenging. Initially, Meierhoffer said, neither his father nor his brother were sure they would be willing to continue the family business.
“Very easily this business could have gone to another family,” Meierhoffer said. “But we’ve been very fortunate. My brother and I believe it was the right decision to continue serving people through this company.”
Like the Marek’s, Meierhoffer Funeral Home now has siblings who co-own the business. Like Marek, Todd Meierhoffer stated that by working well together as a team, including being honest about each other’s strengths and weaknesses, both siblings can contribute to the company’s success.
Meierhoffer added that building a strong team and treating that team well is another way to help ensure the longevity of a family business.
“When you come to Meierhoffer, you have the benefit of a family and a team,” Meierhoffer said. “I think that’s what makes us successful.”
While these two businesses represent a small portion of the family business landscape in St. Joseph, the dwindling number of such businesses can remind customers of the importance of shopping local.
Additionally, individuals are encouraged to start a new family business, and that hard work, teamwork, dedication to excellence and even a little luck every day can benefit families and communities for generations.
Charles Christian provides the evening news for News-Press NOW and is also an ordained minister at United Methodist Churches in Union Star and Helena, Missouri. Charles can be reached at charles.christian@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @NPNowChristian.
