Founder of Busch’s Fresh Market Dies

Joe Busch, co-founder of Busch’s Fresh Market, died on Tuesday, Nov. 17. He was 89.

Busch, a long-time Ann Arbor, Mich., grocer, operated six stores in Michigan before selling them to Vescio’s Foods. In 1975, he, along with Charlie Mattis, repurchased two of his previous store locations to begin Busch’s Fresh Market.

Busch retired in 1986, turning over the company operation to sons John, Doug and Tim. Busch’s Fresh Market now has 15 locations employing 1,400 associates and is the largest independent grocery chain in the state.