Founded by Kathy Sample and Bill Brinkerhoff, Argus set out to solve a simple but stubborn problem: how to make it easy for people to buy local food year-round, in a way that’s fair to farmers and convenient for customers.
In the ten years since opening their first café and market, Argus has become a beloved Ann Arbor institution — and a national model for strengthening local food economies. Through a mix of deep customer discovery, careful data tracking, and close partnerships with local producers, they’ve shown that a community-driven, farmer-first retail model can thrive.
At our November Sustainable Innovation Meet Up, Kathy Sample will share the Argus origin story and lessons learned along the way: what’s changed since launch, the challenges of scaling local food systems, and how Argus is helping others build their own “farm stops” across the country.
Event Details
8:00–8:30 AM – Coffee and conversation
8:30–9:00 AM – Featured talk
9:00–9:30 AM – Q&A and more networking
Join us to connect with local innovators and explore what it takes to build sustainable food systems that truly feed both people and place.
A big thank you to Bill Crane for his partnership in co-hosting these gatherings.
So grateful to Ann Arbor SPARK and the Green Business Challenge for their continued support of the Sustainable Innovation Meet Up.