ReadyMade: Instructions for everyday life

Mondays suck. Especially if you hate your job. But the day doesn’t have to be a total waste. You can now look forward to reading about ReadyMakers who have worked their way into f*&%ing awesome jobs—and maybe find a little inspiration to jumpstart your own career in the process—right here, every Monday.

For Andrew Milauckas, the idea to start a roadside fruit and vegetable stand with a ’50s aesthetic started as a joke. But the recent college grad found a 1930s Standard Oil gas station near his hometown of Douglas, Michigan—and now the joke’s on those who thought Milauckas was kidding.

VITAL STATS
Name: Andrew Milauckas
Where: Douglas, Michigan
Age: 22
First Job: Room service at my parents’ hotel at the age of 12
Best Job: Concepting, designing and opening The Summertime Market, and being a produce stand owner
Salary during 20s: Still there…
Greatest Professional Challenge: Managing my inbox (1763 messages, 423 unread)

1. Hi Andrew Milauckas, How did you get that f*&%ing awesome job?
Made it. I started planning in March, found the location around that time, graduated from college the first week of June and opened The Summertime Market the next week.

2. What is your typical day like?
6:30-7:00 am: Email
7:00-9:30 am: Pick up products from farmers
Then things get random, crazy and hectic.
7:00 pm: Close Market
Repeat x7.

3. What is the most awesome things about your job?
Writing checks to local farmers only—especially when they have nine kids.

4. What is not so awesome?
Nonstop work. And no boss to bitch about.

5. How did you find the location for the market?
The building was just so freaking perfect. It screamed “make me a fruit stand!” Originally, it was a Standard Oil gas station in the late ‘30s.

6. What was the reno like? Did you have a grand plan?
I wanted it to look authentic and old: a slamming screen door, gravel driveway, rafter ceiling. I wanted to leave everything that was original alone and rip out anything that was not. One thing led to another…the removal of vinyl siding revealed tacking strips, the removal of the tacking strips revealed globs of glue all over the exterior…but we knew there had to be ceramic block under there somewhere because of some historic photos. In the end, the goal was to make it a ‘50s roadside stand and I think that we definitely succeeded.

7. How has the community reacted?
Most people absolutely love it—they come in every other day and plan meals solely around what we have available and what is in season. At the checkout, we always say “Thank you,” and five out of ten people reply with “No, thank you.” I take it as a sign that we are doing the right thing and that we should keep after it.

8. How did you think of this idea and how many people did you have to convince that it was a good one?
It kind of started as a joke. I got the idea while having dinner and drink with a friend while interning in New York City, and she asked me what I was going to do if I couldn’t find a job out of school. Without thinking, I said “open a fruit stand.” The rest of the night was spent brainstorming and thinking of possible names. Most people, like my parents, thought it was a joke until I explained the concept of eating local and my desire to make it more accessible.

I’m only 22, fresh out of college and not trying to make a million dollars. I just want the business to be successful and change the way people eat.

9. Do you have any advice for aspiring market owners?
Get rid of any naysayer or just block them out. And surround yourself with the yea-sayers.