HAYWARD — If you ever find yourself looking for the owner of Nick’s Meats in Hayward, don’t ask for Nick. He no longer works there.

Todd Enderson and his wife, Cheryl, took over the business 16 years ago. Cheryl Enderson worked for the business’ original owner when her husband bought the establishment. Todd Enderson just felt it was time for a change. After working at Lou-Rich for several years, he wanted to do something different — something that would allow him to take ownership of his work.

When Todd Enderson took over the business, he never thought of a name change. People already knew the establishment as Nick’s, and he didn’t feel the need to confuse anyone.

Over time, the business has evolved. Enderson said the meat market no longer carries as many groceries as it once did, but that’s not what they are known for.

The grocer operates as a custom slaughterhouse for beef and pork products, processes deer and has a full-service meat counter that makes a wide variety of products in-house, including fresh meat, deli meats, smoked and fully cooked products, jerky, snack sticks and summer sausage.

“We’ve won more awards on our summer sausage than anything else,” Todd Enderson said.

In 2014, the business’ summer sausage won the Best in Show award at the Minnesota Association of Meat Processors. The company’s summer sausage was one of 542 products that could have potentially received the honor.

The meat counter has continued to grow at Nick’s, while the grocery side has shrunk. The business does, however, carry staple items such as milk, bread, butter and eggs.

Todd Enderson is a lifelong resident of Hayward and appreciates the loyalty of his hometown customers in Hayward and its surrounding communities.

“I can’t think of a better place to live,” Todd Enderson said.

Nick’s Meats is at 103 E. Front St. in Hayward. Its hours are from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, and closed Sunday.