Travel Muse Magazine

Local, local, local! That’s the word on my mind as I walk into Argus Farm Stop, a cheery chime on the door welcoming me, while notes of cinnamon find their way to my nose and a colorful display of seasonal, Michigan produce brightens my mood. I love Argus because you can do your grocery shopping as you sip on a freshly made morning coffee from none other than Ann Arbor’s RoosRoast. Best yet, all those things you’re deciding on between sips are sourced from local farmers, bakers, and artisans, with the average good traveling less than 50 miles.

From the yellow painted walls that remind me of a wheat field, to the cow statue keeping guard, and the literal corn growing on the roof during the warmer months, Argus feels like a slice of farm life tucked into the hustle and bustle of downtown Ann Arbor. If the heaps of apples, butternut squash, root vegetables, and plentiful greens that line the shelves don’t convince you, the most lovely attached greenhouse turned lounge will. For me, it is the perfect place to enjoy a beverage and feel the comfort of summertime (even as the thermometer reminds me that it is still winter in Michigan).

After glancing at their specials menu, I ordered the “Hundred Acre Latte,” which was served piping hot in a sea glass-blue mug, plus an almond croissant dusted in powdered sugar. The latte was just the right amount of sweet, featuring a slight citrusy kick from the cardamom and the dreamy taste of steamed milk and honey (made by local bees). While not baked in house, the pastries are delivered fresh each morning from a selection of nearby bakeries. Besides coffee, they also have an assortment of wines and craft beer (yes, all brewed locally). 

The Pączek

I made a special trip two days in a row in February so that I could celebrate Fat Tuesday like a true Michigander: stuffing my face with a pączek (poonch-kee). These a snowball-sized, lightly sugared Polish doughnuts are packed to the point of bursting with delicious custard or fruit preserves. According to the Pure Michigan tourism page, “In Poland, Pączki Day was historically tied to Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek), but Michigan’s Polish communities adapted the celebration to align with Fat Tuesday celebrations.” That’s why they’re filled with so much good stuff! Argus has celebrated Pączki Day since its opening in 2014, selling pączki baked by Crust Bakery in Fenton, Michigan. I tried the raspberry and lemon flavors, and they did not disappoint! Light, fluffy, and filled with fresh–not artificial–preserves. Eat it somewhere it’s okay to be messy because the filling got EVERYWHERE; still, making a fool of myself was worth each delicious bite.

History of Argus Farm Stop

“Know your farmer, know your food” is etched in snow-white paint on the windows of Argus’s eatery. In August 2014, husband and wife duo Bill Brinkerkoff and Kathy Sample opened the first Argus Farm Stop off of Liberty Street with the goal to “grow our local agricultural economy”. They did so by offering small local farmers a place to sell their goods beyond a weekly farmers market. Unlike most grocery stores that only compensate farmers a fraction of the sale price, the farmers make the most profit — earning 70 cents to the dollar instead of the national average of 15.9 cents, as reported by the USDA. By supporting local farmers, we are promoting food security within our communities and reducing reliance on industrial supply chains that can easily crumble as seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The downside? While enjoying my treats, I find myself dazzled by the variety of fresh goods, but the prices quickly brought me back to reality. I really want to buy them all. But it’s just not possible on a student budget. I eventually settled on a loaf of sourdough bread, but even that was $8.50. The cost of groceries here left me wondering how realistic the Farm Stop’s model is for most us, no matter how much we love the idea. Is this for the whole community or only affluent members?

That said, the model is also good for the environment as it lessens carbon emissions associated with long distance transportation of produce. Additionally, each farmer that Argus works with uses sustainable farming practices. 
At Argus, they are driven by this mission and hope to use the farm stop as an example for other communities. They even offer webinars and private consulting to support others looking to create a farm stop.

Before you go…

There is limited seating, especially during the colder months when the outdoor area is unusable. But, I’ve found patrons are generally very nice and will share their table with you.