Argus Farm Stop is a grocery store in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The store sells local farm sourced goods and produces, where the farmers set their own prices and receive a share of the sales revenue based on a consignment-based business model. The model has gained national attention as a method for connecting local farms directly with consumers.
Argus Farm Stop was founded by Kathy Sample and Bill Brinkerhoff to provide a consistent retail outlet for local farmers, particularly outside the traditional market season.[1] The first store opened in August 2014 in a former gas station on Ann Arbor's west side. The company later expanded, opening a second location with a café on Packard Street in 2017 and a third café inside the downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Library.[2][3]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the store expanded its online ordering and pickup services to meet a surge in demand when their business almost doubled.[4][5]
Impact and recognition
Argus Farm Stop has been noted for its local-first model offering a "hybrid between a farmers’ market and a grocery store." In 2024 alone, the store generated nearly $7 million in gross sales across its location. Through its consignment-based business model,[1] of the total sales in 2024, Argus paid out $4.4 million to farms and food producers, with a profit margin of around 1.8 percent.[4]
The model provides a significant revenue stream for small and medium-sized farms, enabling some to expand their operations.[3][4] In 2024, to encourage adoption of its business model, Argus hosted the first National Farm Stop Conference in Ann Arbor.[1] The three-day conference hosted over 130 attendees from across the country.[6]
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