Editor’s note: In its May 15, 2024, edition, the Sun Times News included a special “Discover Tecumseh” section. It contains articles describing many of the businesses and community life in this charming town. We’re running the articles online and encourage you to add a trip to Tecumseh to your list of fun things to do this summer.

The Boulevard Market has been a purveyor of fine foods for two decades. Founded by Erika and John Aylward in 2004, the market has carved a niche in offering an assortment of traditional and global foods that cater to the culinary enthusiast. The establishment prides itself on avoiding processed items, instead focusing on hand-cut artisan cheeses from around the world and freshly made products sourced locally.

Erika emphasizes the importance of supporting local agriculture and maintaining food traditions. “We opened Boulevard Market 20 years ago this year, aiming to complement Tecumseh’s beautiful historic downtown with amazing traditional foods,” she says. In 2006, they expanded to include a creamery, turning local milk into cheeses right on the premises. “We started making bean-to-bar chocolate in 2009 after being inspired by a trip to Sicily,” Aylward adds, detailing the market’s venture into chocolate using organic beans from a family-owned plantation in the Dominican Republic, reflecting the Aylwards belief in supporting not only local farms but small family farms around the globe.

Moreover, Boulevard Market became the first and only licensed producer of dry-cure, fermented salami in Michigan in 2017. “This is huge,” Aylward remarks, highlighting the traditional food preservation technique used. She is passionate about making quality food accessible to everyone, stating, “Our biggest goal has always been not to create a food elite. We believe good food is for everyone.”

Aylward’s commitment to tradition and quality resonates throughout the market’s offerings, from their internationally sourced cheeses (over 250 cheeses of local and international origin) to their artisanal chocolates and salamis, ensuring a unique gastronomic experience for everyone.

Discover more at https://www.boulevardmarket.com/