The Farm Store in Pottsville, PA, a Hub for Local Producers
In the heart of downtown, a once-vacant building buzzes with new energy, thanks to The Farm Store in Pottsville, PA. This locally owned business brings farm-fresh meats, essential groceries and handmade goods to a long-underserved area. Founded by Angela and Josiah Meck, the store officially opened in 2025, but its roots go back to the couple’s farm in Schuylkill County called Honey Brook Farm.
The Mecks began raising beef, pork, chicken and turkey in 2019 and started selling directly to consumers in 2020. They quickly realized there was not a permanent, local outlet for the kind of fresh, high-quality food they produced, especially in Pottsville, which had become a food desert.
“People here often walk or take public transportation, and we wanted to provide access to basic, nutritious food close to home,” Angela Meck says.
The couple found a building at 113 E. Norwegian St. and began renovating it. Along the way, they participated in IGNITE Schuylkill, a business development program that gave them tools – and a $100,000 award – to bring their vision to life.
Josiah and Angela Meck
Owners
The Farm Store
What brought your family back to Schuylkill County?
Angela Meck: I was born in Pottsville, and Josiah is from the Kutztown area. After college at Penn State, we moved around the country for work – New Mexico, Arizona, Minnesota and Wyoming. In 2019, we returned to raise our kids close to family and where they could enjoy space, nature and community. We bought a farm that had been in my family for over 100 years, though relatives hadn’t operated it since the 1960s. We’ve been farming full time since 2021.
Why did you decide to open a store in Pottsville?
We were already raising animals and selling our meat locally, but there wasn’t a year-round, brick-and-mortar option for people to access fresh food. Pottsville is a central location in Schuylkill County. We saw the potential to serve farmers and residents by creating a store where people could reliably find local meat and other essentials.
What makes The Farm Store different from a typical market or grocery store?
Everything we offer, besides some of our housewares that come from Ohio, is Pennsylvania-made. We source from small farms and businesses. We wanted to create a space that feels like a farmers market but is open every week and has hours people can depend on. It’s local food that’s accessible to the community. And being in Pottsville puts us in a central location for farmers across Schuylkill County to reach more customers.
How did IGNITE Schuylkill support your business?
It was a huge opportunity. The program includes 24 weeks of classes, everything from accounting to refining your business plan. We applied, made it through several rounds and won the top prize: $100,000. That funding helped us open the store, hire staff and install a commercial kitchen. We were also able to support the vendors we work with, and some expanded their operations, thanks to our partnership.
How has your business grown since the win?
The publicity and community support we received boosted us even before we opened. We connected with over 30 farmers and vendors whose products we now carry. The store also created a consistent outlet for other local producers, from bakers to flower farms, to reach new customers. It’s about building a network that benefits the entire region.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs in the area?
Start with a clear mission. When you know what your business stands for, you can stay focused and make decisions that align with your goals. Be flexible, plan for setbacks and lean into the community. Other business owners here are incredibly supportive, and local organizations, like the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, have helped us build essential connections.
Would you recommend starting a business in Schuylkill County?
Definitely. The people here want to support local businesses. If you offer a good product and build relationships, then they’ll keep coming back. This is a place where small businesses are able to thrive, and the community truly wants to see you succeed.
Local Programs Support Early-Stage Businesses
In Pottsville, the nonprofit Pottsville Area Development Corp. (PADCO) helped launch Pottsville 2.0 as an opportunity to provide entrepreneurs with all the training it takes to get businesses started. The training took place for 16 weeks and culminated with a business-pitch/Shark Tank-like competition, in which the top plans won prize money to help launch their businesses.
“It cost only $200 to enroll, and entrepreneurs participated in a curriculum that taught them about business plans, marketing, accessing capital, finding mentors, obtaining grants and much more,” says Savas Logothetides, PADCO executive director. “Even if you didn’t win the competition, it was advantageous to be in this program because of all the technical knowledge and networking that the entrepreneurs obtained.”
Another great program is IGNITE Schuylkill, which works to support and nurture early-stage businesses. Similar to Launch Pottsville, finalists pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges to compete for startup capital. In 2024, Angela and Josiah Meck won $100,000 in startup capital for their farm-to-table grocery store. The final 2024 IGNITE Schuylkill event consisted of the pitches, food from local restaurants, an open beer and wine bar, and a celebratory reception.
– Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.
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