Fair Market

By John Bojarski Eagle Staff Writer

March 27, 2012 Last Updated: March 28, 2012 01:32 PM Special Sections

Brian Taylor, vice president of Fairground Market in Prospect, checks out items in the meat case. The store opened in 1983 and five additions have been made since then, bringing the size to 8,600 square feet.

Taylor helps family's business grow, flourish

PROSPECT — You'll never mistake the Fairground Market for a Giant Eagle. But to store Vice President Brian Taylor, that's all right.

“We just try to do our own thing. We try to put out a good product at a fair price,” Taylor said.

The store opened in 1983 with 1,200 square feet. However, the family put five additions on the building, increasing its size now to 8,600 square feet.

Back then, it mostly sold prepared food and deli items to the lunch crowd, a tradition that continues.

“We do a big, a big hot food business, big deli business,” Taylor said.

“Barbecued beef has been kind of the thing we're really well known for.”

Wings also are big business for the store. During 2011's Super Bowl, when the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, the store sold 435 dozen wings.

This year's Super Bowl prompted customers to order more than 100 dozen orders, despite the Steelers not playing.

Taylor said the store has developed a reputation for its fried fish, too, saying it has been known to sell up to 100 pounds of fish on Fridays during Lent.

“We have people who drive from another state for our fish,” Taylor said.

The store started catering in the early 1990s after being asked to help out at a wedding at the Prospect Fire Hall.

He said the store usually caters two to three lunches a day. During summer, the store often does up to four weddings per Saturday.

“It would be nothing to do 15 parties a week. It's still growing. Every year is a little better and a little better,” Taylor said.

For catering, the business has 14 vehicles, including three concession trucks and six pig roasters.

He said catering can be an adventure.

“Catering, you always do something different. Today, you might be at a wedding. The next day, you might do a pig roast,” Taylor said.

About five years ago, the store added fresh meats. The store makes its own sausage, beef sticks and bologna and smokes the meat in-house.

“We sell a lot of meat. It was a big addition to the business,” Taylor said, adding the move changed the store from a convenience-type store to a small grocery store.

Most customers are local residents, but it does get business from truckers driving on Route 422.

Taylor's father, Tom, used to be the store's sole owner, but the store became incorporated Jan. 1. Now, Taylor is the vice president. His father is the president and his sister, Sheri Zmijowski, is the secretary.

Taylor will eventually take over the business.

Despite the corporate structure, Taylor's father still sweeps and mops the floor when needed.

“All three of us do everything,” Taylor said. “It's just a small place. You have to do that.”

Taylor, 38, of Prospect started working at the store when he was 12 years old, stocking groceries after school. Once he graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1991, his commitment became greater.

“The very next day (after graduation), I started full time,” Taylor said.

He said his favorite part of the job is dealing with the customers.

“It's the people you get to know. You meet a lot of interesting people,” Taylor said. “Everybody knows you. I probably know 75 percent of the customers that come in here.”

During busier times in the summer, Taylor said it is not uncommon to work 70 hours per week. However, he does have time to participate in harness racing.

In 2008, a customer asked if he would be interested in partnering with him in horse racing. Taylor agreed.

Now, Taylor owns three horses at the Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington, Pa.

“It's been a pretty good hobby,” Taylor said.

Since then, he became the track manager for the Butler Harness Horse Association. In that role, he is in charge of the racetrack during the Big Butler Fair.

To be successful, Taylor suggests that people work hard, be dedicated to what they have to do, set goals, believe in themselves and listen to and learn from others.

Taylor said there is no secret to succeeding in the food business.

Taylor said, “We try to keep our prices down.”

TAYLOR FILEName: Brian TaylorAge: 38Address: ProspectEmployment: Vice president at Fairground MarketEducation: Graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1991Interests: Harness racing‘We just try to put out a good product at a fair price.’LIFE LESSONSBrian Taylor, vice president of Fairground Market in Prospect, offers these tips for improving the quality of life in Butler County:• More jobs, which helps create a stronger local economy• More community support for events, which will bring the community together• More community involvement in those kinds of events.ON THE JOBName: Fairground MarketAddress: 1138 New Castle Road, ProspectTop official: Tom Taylor, presidentEmployees: 19Contact: 724-865-9523, www.fairgroundmarket.comMission statement: “We cater to you.”BUSINESS INSIGHTBrian Taylor, vice president of Fairground Market in Prospect, offers these tips for improving the success of a business:• Hard work• Dedication• Believing in yourself• Setting goals• Listening to and learning from others.