Connecting Back

works here with us and does some etching, and we have a CNC machine that can do etchings, as well. So we can offer some things that add something to the memorial, that say something about the person and their life.”

The Mahers say referrals come from cemeteries, caretakers and people whose family members have used BEM.

“There are a lot of people that come to us ahead of time. They want to do it so their kids or loved ones don’t have to deal with it when they pass. Plus, then they can put on the stone what they want to put on it, not what someone else wants to put on it. We have so many people that come in here and say, ‘Well, that wasn’t bad at all.’ So I think to help with anxiety, we keep things really low-key. To make it easy for the families, we go at whatever pace they want to go and we just follow their lead. It also helps put people at ease, because these days it’s easier for them to see exactly what the finished product will look like with some of our computer programs. We want to make sure it is a positive experience because if it is for them, then they will tell others, and that’s how we get our business.”

“In 2015, we opened a facility in Albert Lea because our son came out of the service and after finishing his college degree was looking for an opportunity,” Mark Maher said. “We had already been doing

Most Unique Monument

As you can imagine, the Mahers get some unique requests when trying to tell the story of someone’s life through a monument. One of their most unique requests came in the form of a, well, cow. “We did one in the shape of a cow, truly a full-size cow!” Lori Maher said. “That was one of the most unique ones, but we were able to do it. Basically just cutting the design in the overall shape and then doing some etching to show the legs and fur and other details.”

Family First

Ask the Mahers what they do in their free time, and the answer is immediate: spend time with the grandchildren. They have six right now between their children: Amber, Blane, and Mackenzie. Their favorite spot to hang with family is at their cabin in Chisago City. “It’s close to the Twin Cities where our grandkids live, so we have a good excuse to spend time with them,” Mark Maher jokes. “I mean our children, too, but mostly the grandkids!”

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THE VOICE OF MANKATO Entertaining,Entertaining, informing,informing, andand connectingconnecting thethe communitycommunity everyevery day.day. some business in that area and thought it might be a good market to expand into. So we purchased an old dentist office that we renovated and made into a remote sales office.

“With Quickbooks online and inventory online, it is easy to share back and forth between the two locations.”

It’s inventory that is perhaps the biggest challenge during these times.

“Every industry has supply issues,” Mark Maher said. “We have a good handle on the granite, but getting the shipping containers and arranging the transportation to get stuff here has been problematic. Also, production supplies such as rubber stencil and setting compound are available on a limited basis. Quarries are struggling because there are not enough employees available. They are having a hard time keeping up with demand.”

Keeping up with the demands of their own business has been another challenge for the duo. “We were sharing the same office, but then we had to build an addition on because Lori needed her own office,” Mark Maher said.

Lori Maher adds, “Seriously, though, balancing work and home life is something we had to work on because we could be here 24/7 if we wanted to. The work is always here and needs to be done. So making sure we take enough time for ourselves and our family has to be a priority.”

At the end of the day, the Mahers take pride in helping others through the work they do, helping create an everlasting tribute to a life well lived and worth remembering. They understand their work also acts as a final gift and can serve as a permanent record for future generations.

“We love what we do,” Lori Maher said. “Each stone we make has embedded in it a particular perspective, a set of values, and we love serving our community in this way.”

THE ESSENTIALS

Blue Earth Monument

406 S Grove St. Blue Earth, MN 56013 Phone: (507) 526-2250 Web: blueearthmonument.com

MANKATO Sadaka’s Deli

The quote over the entrance to Sadaka’s Deli says it all: “When you’re here, you’re family.”

Sadaka’s Deli is owned and operated by brother-and-sister team Milad Sadaka and Souraya Sadaka. They delight in preparing simple, fresh foods, often dedicating their daily specials to special requests from their customers.

“The fun part is when people ask: ‘Oh do you have this kind of food?’ We say no, but we’ll put it on our specials list for you next week,” Milad Sadaka said. “Our specials are open so everybody can tell us what they need, and we can make it happen.”

“Today, our special was chicken sliders with soup and watermelon for $8.99. We try to keep the prices under control to go with everybody’s budget,” Souraya Sadaka said. “We want everybody to come here and enjoy what we have to give.”

Sadaka’s Deli is located in the Madison East Center in Mankato. It’s open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, serving hot and cold sandwiches, soups and salads. Many of its customers work in or around the Madison East Center and are lured to the deli by the wonderful smells emanating from the kitchen.

“The soup is homemade. The sauces are homemade. We make everything from scratch,” Milad Sadaka said. “We make just enough for that day.”

The Sadakas have been feeding hungry Mankato diners ever since their family immigrated from Lebanon over three decades ago. Souraya Sadaka moved to Mankato in 1984, and Milad Sadaka arrived in 1987.

“Oh, it’s a beautiful story. My entire family came here. There are seven of us,” Souraya Sadaka said. “We all worked together at my brother Charley’s Restaurant for a long time.”

Charley Sadaka died in 2015, and his namesake restaurant closed when the pandemic hit. But Milad Sadaka and Souraya Sadaka weren’t content to stay on the sidelines. Instead, they decided to capitalize on their experience, opening Sadaka’s Deli in December 2020. They also use the deli as a home base for their catering business.

Sadaka’s Deli 1400 Madison Ave., Suite 626 Phone: (507) 779-7191 Facebook: @sadakadeli

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130+ acres Shovel-Ready Industrial Park State Highway Access: 23 and 19 Pull Factor: 1.55 Population Base: 13,500+ Regional Population Base: 25,000+ Median Age: 32 Incentives Available