Joe Freed completes a sale Thursday night at Produce Place in Marysville. The popular market will be closing in January to find a new location. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)

Joe Freed completes a sale Thursday night at Produce Place in Marysville. The popular market will be closing in January to find a new location. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)

Where will the next Produce Place be? Joe Freed’s looking

His popular market, with local goods and reasonable prices, is closing until he can find a new location.

MARYSVILLE — Joe Freed knows a bit about every product and most every customer at the Produce Place.

The salted vodka rib glaze is best brushed onto meat, and don’t be afraid of the spice in the jalapeno barbecue sauce, he suggested to one couple. He’s toured the Ohio operation that makes the specialty pickles he sells. He knows the creators of the Washington salsas that fill part of the refrigerated section.

One of his customers drives a bus in Everett. Another is the mother of two sisters who both have worked at the shop. A man who collects hot rods brings car magazines for Freed’s teenage son. Years ago, a woman went into labor while shopping. She came back to introduce the baby and weighed the infant on one of Freed’s produce scales.

The hardest part of closing is telling customers who have become friends.

The Produce Place will close in January, likely around the second week of the new year, Freed said. He plans to announce a firm date soon.

Olivia Nishimoto (left) and her mother, Ginger Nishimoto, browse apples Thursday night at Produce Place in Marysville. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)

Olivia Nishimoto (left) and her mother, Ginger Nishimoto, browse apples Thursday night at Produce Place in Marysville. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)

The goal is to reopen in another location, but he’s not sure where or when.

“This could be the last time we move, so to do it right is key,” he said.

The Produce Place has been at 12319 State Ave. in Marysville for more than eight years. Before that, it was in a tent near Safeway in Smokey Point.

The decision to move was a tough one, but Freed stresses that he was not forced out and he’s leaving on friendly terms. The property owner is building a two-story addition onto the Produce Place. The bottom floor is for a seafood grill and market, according to city permit documents. The property owner has been good to him over the years, but with the new eatery, Freed decided that parking would be too tight.

“Too many businesses come to a place like this and say, ‘We’ll tough it out.’ But then they start losing customers and then they don’t have enough money to move and they go under,” he said. “Doing it like this, there’s lots of options.”

Freed, 51, was born in Everett and lives in Snohomish. He worked in grocery stores for years, but got fed up with corporate requirements that limited his ability to display and recommend what he felt were the best products. Now, he works directly with farmers and producers. If he can’t personally recommend something, he won’t sell it, he said. He stocks his shop not only with fresh produce, but with treats such as candied jalapenos, flavored popcorn and locally made jams.

He’s hired a number of teens for their first jobs. He takes pride in customer service and getting to know shoppers, employees, fellow business owners and the people who make his goods. He believes that business is about relationships and that a smile goes a long way.

The popular market will be closing its door in January after eight years in the same spot. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)

The popular market will be closing its door in January after eight years in the same spot. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)

Word of mouth is the most powerful advertising tool Freed has used. He doesn’t have a website, but there’s a Facebook page where he plans to keep people up to date as he searches for a new spot: facebook.com/produceplaceinc.

For those not on Facebook, he’s compiling a list of names and phone numbers so he can tell them when he has a location. He also still has the “Coming Soon” banners from when he first opened, so he’ll put those to good use, he said.

Harleen and George Hieber live north of Produce Place. It’s on Harleen’s way home from work at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. They were dismayed to hear about the closure.

“You can just move into our front yard,” Harleen Hieber offered.

They like the local goods, specialty items and reasonable prices, they said. George Hieber is an Army veteran and gets 10 percent off. As long as someone can show something that convinces Freed they are active or former military, he’ll give them a discount. He’s had soldiers come in uniform and veterans unfold their discharge papers on the counter.

He’s from a patriotic family, and married his wife on the Fourth of July. Regulars have been known to slip him money to pay for a uniformed soldier’s purchase. Those are some of the moments that make him love his job, he said. On Veterans Day, he doubles the military discount.

“Well, you’d better be open by Veterans Day,” Harleen Hieber said. “We’re coming back.”

Freed smiled and wished them a happy new year.

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

Simreet Dhaliwal speaks after winning during the 2024 Snohomish County Emerging Leaders Awards Presentation on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Simreet Dhaliwal wins The Herald’s 2024 Emerging Leaders Award

Dhaliwal, an economic development and tourism specialist, was one of 12 finalists for the award celebrating young leaders in Snohomish County.

Lynnwood
New Jersey company acquires Lynnwood Land Rover dealership

Land Rover Seattle, now Land Rover Lynnwood, has been purchased by Holman, a 100-year-old company.

Szabella Psaztor is an Emerging Leader. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Szabella Pasztor: Change begins at a grassroots level

As development director at Farmer Frog, Pasztor supports social justice, equity and community empowerment.

Owner and founder of Moe's Coffee in Arlington Kaitlyn Davis poses for a photo at the Everett Herald on March 22, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Kaitlyn Davis: Bringing economic vitality to Arlington

More than just coffee, Davis has created community gathering spaces where all can feel welcome.

Simreet Dhaliwal is an Emerging Leader. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Simreet Dhaliwal: A deep-seated commitment to justice

The Snohomish County tourism and economic specialist is determined to steer change and make a meaningful impact.

Nathanael Engen, founder of Black Forest Mushrooms, an Everett gourmet mushroom growing operation is an Emerging Leader. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Nathanael Engen: Growing and sharing gourmet mushrooms

More than just providing nutritious food, the owner of Black Forest Mushrooms aims to uplift and educate the community.

Emerging Leader John Michael Graves. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
John Michael Graves: Champion for diversity and inclusion

Graves leads training sessions on Israel, Jewish history and the Holocaust and identifying antisemitic hate crimes.

Gracelynn Shibayama, the events coordinator at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, is an Emerging Leader. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Gracelynn Shibayama: Connecting people through the arts and culture

The Edmonds Center for the Arts coordinator strives to create a more connected and empathetic community.

Eric Jimenez, a supervisor at Cocoon House, is an Emerging Leader. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Eric Jimenez: Team player and advocate for youth

As an advocate for the Latino community, sharing and preserving its traditions is central to Jimenez’ identity.

Molbak's Garden + Home in Woodinville, Washington closed on Jan. 28 2024. (Photo courtesy of Molbak's)
Molbak’s, former Woodinville garden store, hopes for a comeback

Molbak’s wants to create a “hub” for retailers and community groups at its former Woodinville store. But first it must raise $2.5 million.

DJ Lockwood, a Unit Director at the Arlington Boys & Girls Club, is an Emerging Leader. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
DJ Lockwood: Helping the community care for its kids

As director of the Arlington Boys & Girls Club, Lockwood has extended the club’s programs to more locations and more kids.

Alex Tadio, the admissions director at WSU Everett, is an Emerging Leader. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Alex Tadio: A passion for education and equality

As admissions director at WSU Everett, he hopes to give more local students the chance to attend college.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.