Detwiler’s opens first market in Bradenton. It’s a story about faith, family and dreams
Henry Detwiler has never been more thankful.
Thankful to open the first Detwiler’s Farm Market in Bradenton this week. Thankful to welcome his 27th grandchild. And thankful to weather a recent health scare.
The new market at 3500 53rd Ave. W., which opened Thursday, is the company’s sixth overall and second in Manatee County.
Detwiler beamed as customers left the crowded new store with smiles and bags of food, often reaching out for a handshake and introduction.
“Hello, I’m Henry Detwiler. Thank you for coming today!”
Customers have been coming to Detwiler’s since 2018, when the company opened its first Manatee County store at 1800 US 301 in Palmetto. The other four Detwiler’s stores are in Sarasota County.
“I’m excited, I can’t wait. Up to now it’s just been a dream,” Detwiler, 59, said this week in a break room, away from the hustle and noise of final preparations for Thursday’s opening.
Sam Detwiler, 35, Henry’s oldest son and president of Detwiler’s Farm Markets, said the company wanted to open a store in west Bradenton four years ago. And then COVID hit.
“We basically had the deal done,” Sam said of how those plans were delayed.
The new store is in 49,000 square feet of space, similar in size to Detwiler’s stores in Palmetto and Clark Road in Sarasota, but with some differences. Most notable: an area where shoppers can grab a quick bite — pizza slices, subs and the new Detwiler’s doughnuts.
There’s also indoor and outdoor seating for shoppers to eat their purchases.
The journey to success
Henry Detwiler and his wife of 38 years, Natalie, once lived in a Myakka City mobile home with their nine children. Henry was traveling the roads of Manatee County and Sarasota County doing construction work.
But he dreamed of opening a small grocery, selling fresh produce. He would spot potential store locations as he drove.
“When I grew up, my grandfather had a butcher shop and my grandmother had a little grocery. My dad wanted to be a farmer. It seemed like when we were farming, something would always break or we would be pulling weeds,” he said. “I would sit in school, dreaming about retailing.
“When I was 15 or 16, my brother and I started selling produce at a roadside stand in Franconia, Pennsylvania,” he said.
In 2002, Detwiler began to realize his dreams by opening a roadside stand in Sarasota County. In 2009, he opened his first brick-and-mortar store at 6000 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota, and quickly gained a following that led to opening more stores.
Henry Detwiler dropped out of school and never earned a diploma.
“We grew up humble, didn’t have a lot. I don’t have the ability to look down on anybody because I’ve been there,” he said. “What makes our success real is how much pain there was getting here.”
Detwiler is a devout Mennonite. His faith is real as is his compassion for others.
“It’s all for God’s glory,” he said. “That’s my mission statement.”
A health scare
After Henry confided to Natalie that he hadn’t been feeling well lately and was having trouble concentrating, she insisted he go see his doctor, right away.
He did.
Doctors at Sarasota Memorial Hospital gave him three new stents to open blocked arteries.
“I was feeling so good the morning after. God spared me to bring glory to Him,” Henry said.
But he says Natalie has him on a short leash while he recovers — what Henry lovingly calls “house arrest.”
They met 40 years ago on Christmas Eve. And to this day, Henry says there is nothing much better than enjoying a bowl of soup at home with Natalie.
“I never gave up on her, and she never gave up on me,” he said.
In addition to Sam, several other Detwiler children work in the business. Henry Jr. is vice president of operations and human resources, Caleb is head of purchasing for produce, Josh heads up logistics and distribution, Dorcas works in social media and hot food preparation, Victoria heads up bakery operations along with her sister, Gracie.
Their secret for success
So, how have the Detwilers been so successful?
“It’s God’s mercy and grace. That’s the real secret,” Sam said.
“Dad always taught us to work hard, go the extra mile and treat others the way you want to be treated,” he said.
As the company has grown, the Detwilers have worked hard to recruit employees who mirror those values.
“No one beats us in freshness. We’re big on fresh and price. We know we could make our margins bigger, but we choose to give back,” Sam said. “Our goal is to take a really good product and pass it along at a really good price.”
Besides, there are only a million different places to buy a cucumber or a tomato, Sam said.
“We’re a Mennonite family. It is our job to work together. Our family has been through hard times,” he said.
There is also an intangible.
“I am a free thinker,” Sam said. “Dad’s also a free thinker.”
A look ahead
Detwiler’s isn’t finished growing.
In addition to opening the Bradenton location, Detwiler’s is in the process of setting up a larger distribution center that will help supply its stores, as well as possible new locations to the north, the east and the south.
“It’s been four years since we opened our last store. Maybe in 2026 we’ll have another store going. We can speed up a little,” Sam said.
Among the new locations the Detwilers are considering are North Port, Port Charlotte, St. Petersburg, Tampa and Brandon.
The Detwiler’s Farm Market stores
▪ Store 1 - Palmer, 6000 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota
▪ Store 2 - Venice, 1250 US-41 BYP, Venice
▪ Store 3 - University, 6100 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota
▪ Store 4 - Palmetto, 1800 US 301, Palmetto
▪ Store 5 - Clark, 2881 Clark Road, Sarasota
▪ Store 6 - West Bradenton, 3500 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton
▪ Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., except for the Palmer and Venice stores which close at 7 p.m. All stores are closed Sundays.
▪ Online: https://detwilermarket.com/
This story was originally published December 14, 2023 at 11:55 AM.
