Sages Meat Market moving from Morris to Oswego

OSWEGO – Sages Meat Market, which has operated in Morris for more than a decade, is scheduled to relocate in April to the Route 34 corridor in Oswego.

On Tuesday, the Oswego Village Board approved a $55,000 economic development loan sought by meat market owners Tom and Ann Dobbels. The funds, which will come from the village’s Revolving Loan Fund, will help the business get off the ground.

Ann, a former first-grade teacher, had dreams of selling homemade soups, sandwiches and salads from the family’s Morris location, but with no kitchen, the dream would never come to fruition.

When they went in search of a new location, they said Oswego’s loan incentive and tight-knit community drew them to town.

Morris Mayor Richard Kopczick said Sages will be missed because it had great meats and helped shoppers avoid crowds at larger stores. But, he added, the move is out of the city’s control.

“Moves like these are made by business owners after much deliberation, in the interest of making the best business decision,” he said.

Oswego Finance Director Mark Horton said, the village’s Revolving Loan Fund was established to provide financial assistance to new or expanding businesses within the municipality and to develop a stronger economic base and expanded job opportunities.

“Payments go back into that fund, interest goes back into that fund, and are used for projects that can’t typically get financing from a bank,” Oswego Economic Development Director Vijay Gadde said.

Interest on loans is about 3 percent, which is lower than a typical bank loan, he said.

The Dobbels said, the estimated total cost for the project is $111,000. They are seeking $55,000 from the fund for the purchase of kitchen equipment and to pay for the interior build-out of the leased space.

The couple, who will locate their business at 4538 Route 71 in the old Genoa Pizza space, said they are thrilled about the move and are excited to bring their products to Oswego residents, although they anticipate their old customers will make the drive to their new location.

“We’re hoping to bring more customers to Oswego and to see the downtown as well,” Tom Dobbels told the board during a Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday.

Tom Dobbels said he plans to cross-sell with existing businesses, including Sage Spice Shop and Ace Hardware, who they hope will sell more grills as a result of the new meat market location.

“We are huge supporters of community organizations through donations and discounts,” the couple wrote in a memo to the board.

The business currently provides meat for Yorkville and Minooka football cookouts.

Tom Dobbles, who grew up on a livestock farm, said he hopes to bring his years of butcher experience to new clientele. He said his family plans on reaching out to residents to see what they’d like at the new location.

The menu, which includes gourmet burgers, such as bacon jalapeno cheddar and mushroom Swiss, is vast.

Specialty items – ranging from cheese-stuffed portabella mushrooms to stuffed green peppers – accompany dozens of different beef, chicken and pork cuts.

Sausages, bison, elk, venison and fish also are featured. The Dobbles will even cut deer to order and make fresh sausages or smoked products out of hunters’ kills. The business also will accept LINK cards.