News editor
Sometimes a situation lines up perfectly to take a new opportunity, and that was the case for Mike Bredemeier a few months ago. He was in Marion visiting family while on vacation from California, when he saw a business opportunity that would let him return to his hometown and work with his sons.
On Saturday, Bredemeir had the grand opening for Mid-America Kitchens & Baths just north of U.S. 56 in Marion.
The custom countertop business had been closed for quite a while because the previous owner couldn’t find enough reliable help, Bredemeier said. He enlisted his father, Richard, and brother, Jim, to help clean up the facility and clear space for cabinet making — a skill he developed working in cabinet shops in California.
Bredemeier doesn’t expect local retail sales will be enough to sustain the business, so wholesale to contractors and architects is an important part of his business plan. He said he is willing to give up some profit margin for increased sales volume.
He said his goal for Mid-America Kitchens & Baths is to be successful enough that he can semi-retire and hand off most of the day-to-day operations to his sons, Jeff and John.