Main Course celebrates 5 years in Canton

Five years after the Main Course Market opened its doors at 11 Washington Street in Cobb’s Corner, the local community remains just as important to the business as the foods it sells.

“We’ve managed to fill a need in the community for a full-service store with the highest quality products,” said Bob Palmer, who owns the gourmet market along with Jon Perrotton and Steve Neidhardt.

The Main Course opened on February 4, 2006, and the list of products they sell is still growing. They purchase fresh fish through Jordan Brothers Seafood, which specializes in buying it fresh at the pier and delivering it to high-end restaurants and shops. All-natural meat is delivered three times a week. The deli features Boar’s Head brand meats, prepared foods and sausages that are made at the shop.

Marinated steak tips, Atlantic salmon, and fresh ground beef are the best selling perishable foods, according to Palmer. Tate’s cookies are the most popular grocery items. The cookies are baked by a Long Island company and were suggested by a customer.

“We’re always looking for high quality vendors who do the type of business we want to do,” Palmer said.

The Main Course also carries Equal Exchange coffee and chocolates, and crackers from Vermont.

In the fall of 2006, the Main Course added a large selection of wine to the shop. Neidhardt is the wine specialist.

“He does a great job of seeking great wines for fair prices,” Palmer said. “We have wine you’re not going to find in your typical liquor store.”

The fastest growing portion of the business is the prepared foods menu, which includes a lunch menu featuring a variety of sandwiches and hot entrees. Chef Marianne Draghi chooses recipes and works with three assistants to create dishes such as lemon pepper shrimp scampi, orange glazed chicken, eggplant parmesan, and baby back ribs.

“She’ll take customer suggestions and make things for people with food allergies who need gluten-free foods or no salt,” Palmer said of Draghi.

To celebrate its five-year anniversary, the Main Course thanked its customers with a $5 sale of some of its most popular foods: marinated turkey, chicken and steak, lump crab cake, eggplant parmesan, and Equal Exchange coffee.

Eggplant Rollatini

“The real reason for our success,” Palmer said, “is that we just keep listening to our customers. When a customer says something, we can really do it.”

The Main Course has donated gift baskets and meal preparation gifts to fundraisers in Canton, Stoughton, and Sharon.

“We never say no to any appeal for a school, synagogue, church, or library,” Palmer said. “We’re proud of the way we fit into the community.”

Tricia Zoller of Sharon describes herself as a customer who has shopped at the Main Course since day one. “Bob’s amazing,” she said. “He goes out of his way to make it happen. The quality here is terrific. I’ve never been disappointed.”

For more information on the entire menu, go to www.maincourse-ma.com.

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Posted by Mary Ann Price on Feb 24 2011. Filed under Business. Both comments and pings are currently closed.