Some businesses you start. Others you’re trusted to carry forward. Northern Star Mills has been a cornerstone of this community since 1898. I purchased Northern Star Mills in 2024 from John Growdon, whose family had run it since 1928.
I have learned that balancing family with running a business is easier when you merge the two. My wife Delphine handles advertising and keeps us connected to the community. Our six-year-old Aili works the register like she owns the place. Our two-month-old gets carried around by whoever’s closest; me, my wife or one of our staff, who are really just family at this point. Northern Star Mills has been a family business for nearly a century. Turns out, we fit right in.
I love owning a legacy business. Every day, someone walks through that door and tells me about coming here as a kid. Seeing the baby chicks, the smell of the place, what it meant to their family. I’m now the person responsible for being part of their kids’ memories. That’s not something you take lightly, and honestly, it’s not something you can put a price on.
When someone hands you 126 years of history and says, “You’re the right person for this,” don’t overthink it. Honor what came before you, take care of the people around you and the rest will follow. I think about that every time I unlock those doors.
530-342-7661 510 Esplanade, Chico NorthernStarMills.com
Posted in: Dads in Business
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