Family-owned Maplewood meat shop at risk of closing after string of thefts and bad luck

Jan. 17--It was a dream come true for Dave and Donna Borchert when they opened their meat market in Maplewood in 2015.

And then some harsh reality hit.

Downed power lines led to a boiler room fire.

Thieves damaged their freezers and refrigerator.

And then there were the Christmastime thefts.

The Borcherts say they have sustained about $80,000 in damages as a result, most of which they have paid out of pocket.

"We've talked about shutting it down," Dave Borchert said Monday during a visit to the cozy market on Frost Avenue. But "that's the last thing we absolutely want to do."

Borchert's Meat Market has not had a profitable year yet and the family may have to close shop if they do not get it on track. It may take a community's help to save them.

THE INCIDENTS

The Borcherts took over the market after years working there as general managers and partners with the previous owner. It was known as Stokke's then.

It was a dream to own their own neighborhood market and they put their own name on it. They live within a mile of the shop and set out to be a community asset.

The setbacks then piled on.

In June 2016, a semi truck pulling out from behind the store brought down power lines, which started an electrical fire in the boiler room. The truck driver's insurance covered only half of the damages.

In June 2017, two thieves cut the power to the market's condensing units and stripped them for scrap metal. Those units kept the refrigerator and freezers cold. Dave and Donna Borchert said they had to pay to replace the compressors. Most of their meats and other products had spoiled.

And the market has also been the target of two Christmastime thefts, the most recent last month. A suspect used a concrete block to break through the front door early Christmas morning and stole a Salvation Army kettle. It cost the Borcherts $400 to replace the door.

They have insurance, but it covered only a portion of the damages. As the events piled up, they worried about getting dinged by their insurance.

Police have investigated the incidents. Maplewood police Detective Derek Fritze said the suspect who broke in on Christmas left blood at the scene. Police are waiting for DNA test results to come back from the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Despite the run of bad luck, the Borcherts say they have never considered moving their business elsewhere.

They live within walking distance of the shop, and each of their five children -- three of whom are in college -- have worked there at some point.

"I think if you think of the American dream ... that's us," Dave Borchert said. "This is our livelihood."

Jane Kennedy of North St. Paul frequently shops at Borchert's. She said the market provides a "great service to the community," and that the Borcherts deserve credit for their hard work.

"I just feel really bad when I see that there's been destruction to property, especially when you have a young family that's really trying to make a go of this year and this community," Kennedy said.

HOW TO HELP

The family is hoping their community will rally behind them so they can stay in business, whether it be continuing to shop there or spreading the word.

"Don't keep us a secret," Donna Borchert said.

The Borcherts have set up a GoFundMe page with a goal of raising $30,000. They have raised about $2,750 so far.

Borchert's Meat Market is located at 1344 Frost Avenue in Maplewood.

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