What started as a humble chip stand in Garden River First Nation has grown into a bustling takeout joint that caters to customers in the Sault and surrounding area.
Josh and Janey Marasco opened Big Arrow Takeout a little over two years ago, after deciding to fold a former takeout window that operated as part of Big Arrow Variety, Gas Bar & Chip Stand on Highway 17B.
“It grew up — this is it,” said Janey, in response to customers who ask her about the former chip stand.
“You can come here now and get it all year ‘round.”
While deep-fried staples like poutine, chicken fingers and fries have all remained on the menu from its chip stand days, Big Arrow Takeout now offers a variety of daily specials from Monday through Friday.
The business typically has three daily specials, which are posted on Big Arrow’s social media account before lunchtime each weekday.
“It’s crazy,” Janey said.
“We did about 500 turkey dinners in December alone.”
But the fresh, beer-battered whitefish dinners remain the biggest seller for the eatery, with roughly 200 of them being served up to hungry clientele each and every Friday.
“It’s amazing,” Josh said. “We change our oil lots, and we really take a lot of pride in being the cleanest.”
The married couple behind Big Arrow Takeout also take pride in the wide selection of pre-made meals and ready-to-go food items that are made in-house by Janey and her stepmother.
That includes the single servings of cheesecake that “fly out” of the establishment by the dozen on a weekly basis, Josh said.
“Everything is homemade,” he said. “Every single thing.”
And the word about the delicious food being made by staff at Big Arrow has spread to a number of high-profile clients in Sault Ste. Marie that it now caters meals for.
“We went from having two people — one cook and one cash — to having two cooks, someone to do catering, two cash,” said Janey. “It’s grown.”
Although Big Arrow Takeout has grown exponentially since opening its doors, it truly remains a family affair at heart: When SooToday showed up there, Josh’s aunt and Janey’s stepmother were spotted keeping busy by preparing food and ringing up customers.
The Marascos also get a hand from their 10-year-old daughter, India, who helps them shop for supplies.
“It’s a big family effort, for sure,” Josh said.
The family ties to Big Arrow don’t end there, however. The Marascos manage both the convenience store and gas station on behalf of owners Terry and Joan Belleau, who are Janey’s parents.
“My parents' goals have always been just to be available,” said Janey. “They don’t like to close — they like to stay consistent.”
Big Arrow Takeout attributes its success to the buy-in from its customer base in Garden River and the Sault, in addition to outlying areas like Echo Bay, St. Joseph Island, and Desbarats.
“The community helps us tremendously,” Josh said.
