Au Marche

 

Store Name Au Marche
A touch of Europe in the Heartland of AmericaBusiness Type Food and Beverage Stores

NAICS Code 445

Location 931 Massachusetts St. , Lawrence, KS 66044

Nearby Businesses Etc. Shop, Stitch On Needleworks & Gifts, Wild Territory, Phoenix Gallery, Wingstreet, Wild Man Vintage

Owner/Manager Lora Wiley

Special Store Activities n/a

Year Opened 1998

Website http://www.aumarche.com

Phone 785-865-0876

E-mail lora@aumarche.com

Community Profile Lawrence (Population 80,000, 10 mile radius population: 91,000) is a college town located on the banks of the Kansas and Wakarusa Rivers, in Douglas County. Lawrence is home to the University of Kansas, which has an enrollment of over 30,000 students, and to Haskell Indian Nations University. Lawrence has a history of political activism and a thriving arts culture. Massachusetts Street, the main shopping district of downtown Lawrence, has a lively atmosphere and is filled with restaurants, bars, galleries, shops and music venues. Along with the university, visitors can experience the nearby Clinton State Park and Clinton Lake

Products Sold & Niche Developed

Au Marche is a full service European grocer, offering many items that a normal American grocer would not have. Au Marche prides itself on supplying its customers with everyday European foods, not just specialty products. Cheese and chocolates are two of the biggest sellers at Au Marche, but by no means is the inventory limited to those two products; Au Marche also carries breads, pasta, soup, meats, beverages, sauces and European soaps rarely found in the U.S. Shoppers can browse through a selection of foods from all over Europe, including countries such as Germany, France, Holland and Scandinavia. In addition to European foods, Au Marche also carries some locally produced foods and products from local restaurants. The inventory of Au Marche is constantly expanding because customers can request certain items to be carried in the store if they are not already. The specialized inventory and acute attention to customer service at Au Marche has helped to carve out a niche in the Lawrence community and beyond.

Market Segments Served

The unique nature of Au Marche and the ease with which customers can shop online give this store a very wide customer base. On the most basic level, their clientele consists of people who are looking for foods they would find in any grocer in Europe, whether it’s because they lived abroad or they have strong ties to their heritage. During the week, Au Marche has a very loyal, local clientele that shop for their everyday European foods. On the weekends, people from all over Kansas and neighboring states make the trip to Au Marche to do their shopping. Finally, customers from all over the country order food online and will stop in to the store if they are in the Lawrence area.

Contributions to the Business Community

Au Marche is a destination point for people from all across Kansas and beyond, some of whom would stay in Lawrence for the day or for the night and shop at other businesses in the downtown area. Also, Au Marche helps to support local farmers and restaurants by selling their products, which also keeps dollars local. Finally, Au Marche donates to a number of community organizations.

Review by: Danny Bruce, UW Extension CCED