Mathews Family Farm Market: A whimsical year-round wonderland

When approaching the entrance to the Mathews Family Farm Market at 950 W. Leffel Lane in Springfield, your eyes are treated to what looks like a whimsical winter wonderland. Cruise along the short path leading to the store, the Christmas trees and quaint landscaping are welcoming to those wanting to feel the holiday spirit and a year-round hometown feel.

A.J. Mathews, 18, is the owner and operator of the establishment, and on a recent snowy and cold winter day, he was proudly showing off all of the baked items and other locally produced inventory that make the business a hometown gem.

Mathews, who just graduated this year from Shawnee High School, had his business vision manifest itself during his upperclassmen years in school. The business started as a small market selling produce from the family farm at the end of their driveway.

Now, he has a thriving market with a goal of serving the community for decades to come.

“This is my whole heart and soul,” Mathews says, standing in the center of his market, with a slight chill in the air. “We started selling produce and got a lot of local vendors that supply with all of the things we have for sell. Everything in here is homemade.”

Pointing to the eggs, baked goods and the various items that many would love to adorn their home, Mathews shares that he has a sense of pride in having a true hometown business.

“I have always wanted to own my own business,” he says. “My mom asked me once, ‘Are you tired of it?’ I said, ‘No, this isn’t work, this is fun and I love that we are community-based.'”

Mathews is currently attending Clark State College, studying agribusiness, which gives him the background to keep an eye on what the store needs to keep being successful.

“You know we are really family owned and operated, and buying from big business doesn’t have the same impact,” he says. “We are open year-round and plan to grow. We now have a little bit of everything to sell. Long-term goal is to add pumpkins, plant Christmas trees, have berries and you pick flowers.”

The trees on the lot now are from North Carolina, an endeavor that Mathews explained was an attempt to get the holiday sales going.

“I wanted to come up with an idea to create a way to make money this winter, and we found a vendor that could make that happen,” he explains. “There is not a bad tree out there.”

The market is also an authorized seller of sheds made by the Amish business, Miami Valley Barns, out of Plain City. And as the market becomes more of a growing enterprise in Springfield, Mathews wants to point out and reiterate his thanks to those who have helped pave the way towards success.

The oldest of five, Mathews is quick to thank his siblings and parents, Logan, a paramedic/firefighter, and Kristin, an emergency room nurse.

“They have supported me, and the community has helped my dream come true,” he says. ” I also need to thank 4-H for all of the experience I have had as a member. It was founded here in Springfield, and I was nominated as the ‘King for Clark County,’ so I have been able to represent the county around the state.”

A challenging economy has kept Mathews on his toes, but he says the business is managing to stay strong and navigate through the obstacles.

In the meantime, he is sleeping in the camper beside the market, ready to do business with the community while keeping an eye on the Christmas trees.

“There is a lot of late-night traffic on Leffel Lane,” he says with a laugh. “I would like to get more trees sold. Trying to get them out the door.”

The market is open during the winter season from 4 to 8 p.m., during the week, and 1 to 6 p.m. on the weekends.