GRAND RAPIDS — Whether it is candy, jam, gifts, or even all-year Christmas decorations you are looking for, the Shoppes at Carson Block has it all.

The start of part-owner Joe Schroeder’s local business’s adventures actually did not start in Grand Rapids, but in Weston, where he teamed up with Stephanie Rangler to open the Just For You shop.

“Our first store was the Just for You shop. My business partner, Stephanie Rangler, was actively selling on eBay at the time, and I just wanted to own a business, so when there was a building available in Weston, Ohio, we took it,” Schroeder said.

From there, the solo shop would stay in Weston until the end of 2007, when the first of their many locations became available and the Shoppes at Carson Block were born.

“We moved to Grand Rapids in 2007. We became friends with a guy who owned a building in town, and he tried for two years to get us to move, and we kept telling him no. Finally, we decided it was time to make the change, and we moved the Just For You shop here in December of 2007.” Schroeder said.

Twelve years later, in 2018, the owner of Mary’s Apple Orchard decided to retire, which led to Schroeder and Rangler opening up their second businesses, Grandma’s Pantry and Old Gilead’s Candy Counter.

“The next store was Mary’s Apple Orchard; our friend that owned it told us she was retiring when she reached a certain age, and when that day came, we bought that too. We spent New Year’s Eve of 2018 busting a hole in the wall to connect the two shops; we were there till about three in the morning, so we really rang the New Year in that year,” Schroeder said.

The third business the group bought came to fruition in 2020. Taking over the Olde Gilead Country Store, a staple in Grand Rapids.

“In 2020, after Olde Gilead Country Store closed and the long-time owner retired, we bought the candy counter and all sorts of things like that, added more jams and jellies, and even added ‘The Dam Gift Shop,’ which is a Grand Rapids souvenir people can buy when they visit,” Schroeder said.

Ben Shanahan | Sentinel-Tribune

Ben Shanahan | Sentinel-Tribune

Ben Shanahan | Sentinel-Tribune

Whether it is candy, jam, gifts, or even all-year Christmas decorations you are looking for, the Shoppes at Carson Block has it all.

Ben Shanahan | Sentinel-Tribune

And the newest addition to the Shoppes on Carson Block is Carson’s Christmas Corner, a winter Wonderland store with holiday decorations for sale all year round that opened in September 2022.

The owners as they have built strong relationships with the vendors.

“We try to specialize in the unique and unusual that you cannot find anywhere else. We go to shows and make friends with sales representatives who have learned about our store, and they will show us things they think would fit. The friendships make it easier for Stephanie … and I to purchase what is on our shelves today,” Schroeder said.

These shops and many more local businesses have made Grand Rapids a destination for travelers to come by and make the most of a great Midwestern day.

“Our shops are a great destination by themselves, and when you add beautiful Grand Rapids, Ohio, itself, you easily have a great day to spend shopping or just getting away,” Schroeder said.