About Oleson's Food Stores

Our goal is to provide you the very best shopping experience, and our great associates love to prove it! Fast, friendly service, associates happy to help you find what you’re looking for, department experts, smiling cashiers, and baggers to pack your groceries all work together to make your trip smooth and easy.

We have the largest variety of fresh products in the area and we keep our shelves well–stocked. Our meat departments offer the finest meat every day, including local turkeys and grass–fed beef, our very own buffalo meat and store–made specialties like brats, sausages and special cuts. Produce departments offer great value and amazing freshness, and the best selection of local and Michigan–grown items when available.

As a matter of fact, you will find the widest selection of local and Michigan–grown and processed products throughout our aisles as they are available. We are proud to support local businesses and the Michigan economy.

When you’re looking for freshness, convenience, and homemade taste browse the daily selections in our Deli and Bakery departments. These experts create daily store–made, irresistible specialties to tempt your taste buds and make mealtime easy. And the next time you entertain, be sure to talk to our Deli experts about their fresh party platters, and our Bakery Decorators about that special custom cake that will have your guests talking about it for weeks after the event!

Are you a beer or wine aficionado? Our beer and wine departments are proud to feature an amazing selection of wonderful Michigan wine and craft beers, as well as domestic and import favorites to satisfy any taste, and we offer a full selection of liquor.

And if you are looking for something unique, we are happy to place special orders!

Company History
In 1926 Gerald and Frances Oleson opened a small grocery store on Front Street in Traverse City. They lived in the upstairs apartment. That building still stands, but that store eventually was replaced with a much larger one just down the street. Their sons became involved in the business and the chain expanded to Petoskey, Charlevoix and Manistee. Today those stores have all been expanded and upgraded to modern stores offering customers the best in Northern Michigan shopping and service.

Much of the credit for this growth goes to the large number of outstanding associates who have worked together to make the business successful.

Buffalo (Bison)

Oleson’s also keeps what was once referred to as the “Largest Buffalo herd east of the Mississippi”! Gerald bought 26 head back in 1957 and the herd continues to roam just south of the Traverse City limits! Learn more here.

Jerry Oleson's favorite quote: “I am not smart, I am lucky. The harder you work, the luckier you are.” He may have been a bit smarter than he admitted. He did work hard and left a legacy that is still going strong today.

– The Oleson Family