By ANTONIO

ANDERSON

Journal Staff Writer

ISHPEMING — Milano Smokehouse Meats celebrated the opening of its business with a ribbon -cutting event Thursday.

The business is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Owners Katelyn and Timothy Milano were joined by Ishpeming Mayor Jason Chapman and members of the Lake Superior Community Partnership, as well as nearly 50 onlookers and family members of the late Glenn Andrews, to whom the new business hopes to honor.

Melissa Andrews, Glenn Andrews’ daughter-in-law, spoke about her family’s reaction to the store finally opening.

“We have been really supportive, all of us. I know Glenn has probably got a big grin on his face today, just so happy his tradition is going to keep going on,” she said.

She said the store brought her a feeling of nostalgia from what it offered, the layout and even the portraits of Glenn Andrews on the wall.

The Andrews family even gave Glenn’s old recipe book to Milano Smokehouse Meats, and the business will be featuring many of his classic bratwurst said Katelyn Milano.

The Milano Smokehouse offers brats, jerky, meat sticks, dry-aged meat and many other goods.

Milano Smokehouse Meats will support other local business, like 906 Pet Treats.

“906 Pet Treats is one of our new vendors, they make really great pet treats,” said Katelyn Milano.

She said the business commissioned a local artist, Breanna Wood of Queen Bee Artistry to paint a mural inside the shop.

“This is her first large mural and she did an amazing job,” Milano said. “Her art speaks for itself and she is very talented. I think we are going to commission her again to do more painting around the shop. We have got a lot of people interested in selling their stuff but we are not doing it just yet, that takes a little time and planning.”

Katelyn Milano said they plan to offer cookware, cutting boards and other goods made or provided by other local businesses.

Speaking on the importance of businesses supporting other businesses, Wood said, “Huge, it is huge. They commissioned me and the whole time I am in there, hours of just painting, and I am sitting there tearing up a little bit. Because they are in there working their butts off, late nights, early mornings and I am right there with them. If they aren’t rich with money, they are rich with love. It’s cool to see the love that they have and all of the support.”

The mayor claims that this support is the very spirit of the people of Ishpeming.

“To have this reopened again is truly amazing,” Chapman said. “For them to take over and continue Glenn’s legacy here means a lot to the entire community. I was so sad when Glenn passed away, he brought so much to our community.

“Now to see this open again and a part of our community for the years to come, it means a lot and I hope our community will come out here and prop them up. Because that is what Ishpeming does, we support our small businesses.”

Katelyn Milano said that this support means a lot to her and her family.

“It is nice to have such a community respond to us because we have lived up here for eight years and I haven’t felt super connected until today, and a lot of people came out to support us,” she said.

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.