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1947–PRESENT · SOUTH BEND-BORN (BOUNDARY) · SEATS IN MISHAWAKA AND GRANGER, NONE IN OSCEOLA
The chain is dug whole, as a food institution. Martin's Super Markets was founded in South Bend in 1947 by Martin and Jane Tarnow: on 15 September 1947 the Tarnows opened a neighbourhood "mom and pop" grocery in the 1500 block of Portage Avenue with $200 in cash (Martin Lewis Tarnow Jr.'s obituary, South Bend Tribune, August 1998; the company's own accounts give the first store as some 800 square feet). In December 1962 the Tarnows relocated to Portage and Elwood — the supermarket-scale Store #1, built 1963 on the corridor record — which remained a Martin's site into the present century. Growth ran by family succession: Bob Bartels, the founders' son-in-law, joined in 1964, served as president and CEO from 1973 and chairman from 2005, and under him the chain grew from the mom-and-pop into a corporation of some twenty stores; his son Rob Bartels, the founders' grandson, was president when the end of family ownership came. The present state is dated: in November 2018 SpartanNash agreed to acquire Martin's — then 21 stores across northern Indiana and southwest Michigan, about 3,500 employees, more than $450 million in net sales for the year ended 29 July 2018 — the transaction closing at the turn of 2018–19 (PitchBook dates the acquisition 31 December 2018); the stores trade still under the Martin's name in November 2026, as a SpartanNash chain. One count conflict prints whole: the company's 2016–17 accounts give 22 stores; the acquisition record gives 21. Both stand as their sources date them.
Osceola's share and the assembly note are stated together. No Martin's seat stands or ever stood inside Osceola; the seats serving the town stand on Mishawaka and Granger ground, as banked Food & Drink says. DELTA disposition DF-12 touches this row and is noted here, not resolved silently: Food & Drink points readers to a Martin's chain record in Businesses that does not exist — businesses' only Martin is the Crystal Springs Creamery family. This article is the chain record the pointer promised; assembly conform of the pointer itself (delete or redirect) remains assembly's step, per DF-12.
Sources: South Bend Tribune obituary of Martin Lewis Tarnow Jr. (August 1998, via the St. Joseph County obituary record) — 15 September 1947, the 1500 block of Portage Avenue, $200, the December 1962 move to Portage and Elwood, 17 stores at his death. SpartanNash acquisition accounts (Moody on the Market; Mass Market Retailers, November 2018) — founded 1947, South Bend; 21 stores; 3,500 employees; $450 million-plus sales; Rob Bartels, president and founders' grandson. Progressive Grocer / Congressional Record accounts of Bob Bartels (2015) — joined 1964; president/CEO 1973; chairman 2005; the founders' daughter Nancy his wife. Martin's company accounts (2016–17) — 22 stores, the count conflict printed whole. Banked Food & Drink (no seat in town; Mishawaka and Granger seats).