Remembering the longtime owner of Central Fresh Market in Kitchener

Mike Williamson, seen in an undated photo. (Submitted/Josh Williamson)

The community is mourning the loss of a beloved business leader, Mike Williamson, the longtime owner of Central Fresh Market in downtown Kitchener.

Williamson, 69, passed away last Tuesday. His family said he was fighting a “courageous battle” with cancer.

Growing up in Azilda On., just outside Sudbury, Williamson started in the grocery business at the age of 14.

“Dad had the grocery business in his blood, being involved with it at such a young age,” said Josh Williamson, Williamson’s son and current Central Fresh Market manager.

After working at, then running, a grocery store in North Ontario, Josh said his dad was looking for an opportunity to buy his own independent store.

“He always was an entrepreneur at heart and wanted to be a part of a community and this community accepted him with arms wide open,” said Josh.

In 1998 Williamson purchased what was then known as the Central Meat Market. He changed the name to Central Fresh Market and worked to reshape the store into what it is today.

“Mike really prided himself on being able to employ up to 110 people at one point, and so that really made a difference for families, customers being able to get a product at a good value, and then the donations throughout the community and the support he was able to provide, often anonymously,” said Josh.

Employees said Williamson was more than just a boss.

Allan Conrad has worked at Central Fresh market for 22 years and refers to Williamson as his best friend.

“He just treated me like gold. So I just kept on learning and learning from the guy, and he’s turned this into a great career for me,” said Conrad, who he met his future wife at the store when he was 19.

Conrad said years later, when the couple had their first child, Williamson was there.

“it was kind of a fluke him being there, but he actually carried my first born kid out of the hospital,” said Conrad.

Helmut Seiber has worked at Central Fresh market for 50 years. Williamson even employed all seven of his children.

“He’d always ask who else I have to work for him, so he was great in that way,” Seiber laughed.

Never one to hog the spotlight, Williamson preferred to remain in the background, including when it came to giving back to the community.

“He wanted to make sure he could make a difference, as humble as he was, he didn’t want anyone to know what kind of differences he was making behind the scenes, but he really took pride in it,” said Josh.

Keeping their fathers vow of silence, they say they are not even sure the extent of his giving, however in his passing they are hopeful people will give to the Food bank of Waterloo Region and the Canadian Cancer Society.

“One thing he noticed as he started treatment in the Grand River Cancer Clinic was that he was stunned and taken aback by how many people are fighting cancer, and I think in his honor, we would like to carry on and bring in some whatever we can do to support the community in that way,” said Josh.

Donations in Williamson’s memory can be made to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region or the Canadian Cancer Society.