Long recognized as the founding mother-ship of winemaking in Michigan’s Great Southwest, the team at Tabor Hill Winery and Restaurant on Mt. Tabor Road near Buchanan has found its way onto the roster of the 20 Best Places to Work in Southwest Michigan for 2022. For more than 50 years, Tabor Hill teammates ranging in age from 16 to well over 60 have played a major role in the celebratory moments of thousands of families and individuals from across the region, the state and the nation. The nominator says, “Everyone is dedicated to providing an amazing experience for our guests in an environment where we also support each other as workers.” From baby showers to birthdays, from job promotions to retirement parties, and hundreds of weddings as well, Tabor Hill’s panoramic vineyard views and first class facilities, food and wines have enthralled audiences for decades. Award winning wines peppered across the menu and tasting sheet have even been recognized at state dinners in the White House and on the holiday tables of such notables as Hollywood star Bob Hope and his family. Flexible scheduling and bonus opportunities are among the perks for Tabor Hill associates, but you can’t beat a free glass of wine or spirits on each shift as a benefit that few places will offer. As the nominator notes, “Tabor Hill celebrates life by giving people and staff a place to celebrate the special moments of their lives in a beautiful setting, with great food and drinks in the memorable rolling hills of wine country!” Time to get rolling there yourself, don’t you think? Read on for more of the iconic Tabor Hill story.
What is the name of the business you are nominating?
Tabor Hill Winery and Restaurant
Who are the owner(s) and/or principals in this company?
The Moersch Family
Business Contact Information
Tabor Hill Winery and Restaurant, 185 Mt. Tabor Road, Buchanan, MI 49107
How many people work at the company you are nominating?
50
Tell us the story behind the nominated company. What does it do, and what sets them apart from other companies in the region?
Tabor Hill has staff ranging in ages from 16 to 62 and have employees who have been with the company for 30 years and still working there today! They hire people of all ages and all walks of life and have a very diverse staff! As a person entering my more senior years, I was so happy to be recently hired as a server for the restaurant! The managers are very genuine and sincerely care about their staff as do the owners! Everyone is dedicated to providing an amazing experience for our guests in an environment where we also support each other as workers. An example of their caring nature was one day when a young newly hired busser came in for work, she had been up all night with her mother who was in the hospital the night before with an unexpected emergency. The new busser did not want to miss her shift so she came in to work after the long night. When the busser talked to a server about her long night, the server went to a manager who then spoke to her and told her she should go home and rest and that her shift would be covered. I think I can speak for all of us when I say Tabor Hill is one of the best places to work in Southwest Michigan!
In your own words, why do you think this company deserves to be declared to be one of the 20 Best Places to Work in Michigan’s Great Southwest?
At Tabor Hill You are able to work for customers celebrating the most special days of their lives from birthdays to baby showers and weddings!! You can have a lifetime career here!
What makes workers proud to say they work there, and keeps them a part of the team?
Tabor Hill is one of the original hospitality businesses in Southwest Michigan serving people for over 30 years!
Let’s pretend you’re writing a review for Yelp! or Trip Advisor. Give us your best recommendation for the nominated company that would make the rest of us wish we worked there, too.
When you come to Tabor Hill you will have an amazing escape from your ordinary day and will interact with other customers and staff who are smiling, having fun and enjoying all of the good food and wine that Southwest Michigan has to offer along with the gorgeous country setting!
What three key words best describe why this company is a Best Places to Work caliber company?
- Friendly
- Satisfying
- Honest
As a Best Places to Work company “Super Hero,” what are the two most magical “Super Powers” this company seems to have on a day-to-day basis? (i.e., Ability to read minds, fly, invisibility, etc) And why?
Super Power One: Making staff feel as important as guests
Super Power Two: Good listeners!
Tell us about the leadership of the nominated company and what they do in order to:
A] Keep spirits and motivation high? — The managers give out little bonuses for working on days like holidays. They allow workers to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of their shift!
B] Keep innovation and fresh ideas advancing? — The owner stops in on a weekly basis to talk with the staff. There are very open lines of communication from the bottom to the top!
C] Keep communications open? — The managers are on the floor with the workers the whole time, they will even carry food if necessary. This way they are very accessible for workers to chat with them about all aspects of the work.
Explain a specific “wow!” moment in this company’s history that is virtually “Hall of Fame” or “Best Practices” worthy, as an example to other companies in the region.
In 1971 President Gerald R. Ford served Tabor Hill’s Vidal Blanc wine at a White House dinner, making it the first wine from Michigan and the entire Midwest to be served at the White House!
Best Places to Work have a reputation for not only working hard, but also for playing hard.
A] How does the nominated company honor or reward success? — Tabor Hill will promote from within! They give out bonuses for special occasions!
B] How does the nominated company socialize as a team? — I am new so will see this aspect this summer!
C] How does the nominated company get involved in community events? — Tabor Hill supports many local organizations with donations and support! We offer a daily “Cocktail for a Cause” which has supported things such as autism awareness, cancer and women’s shelters.
D] How does the nominated company celebrate life? — Tabor Hill celebrates life by giving people and staff a place to celebrate the special moments of their lives with a beautiful setting, great food and drinks in the memorable rolling hills of wine country!
Write a brief, but compelling, recruitment ad telling people about why they should come and work there, too.
If you want to make great money working reasonable hours, come to Tabor Hill! You will be supported by a great staff who will become your new friends! You will learn a great deal about the art of entertaining which you can incorporate into your own life!
What one thing is special about your nominated company that most people in the community have no idea actually happens there, but should be shouted from the rooftops because it’s that cool?
We hire the coolest people! Everyone has a neat story! We have the most diverse staff and they embrace our unique personalities!
Give us three employee perks or benefits that you think make the company you have nominated worthy of a Best Places to Work trophy?
- Flexible scheduling
- Bonuses
- Free glass of wine or spirits each shift
If this is your company and you win, write the best headline ever for your company newsletter describing your successful selection to the list, and be as specific as you can about how you would celebrate the win if money were no object.
Tabor team, you have won the “best place to work in Southwest Michigan contest!!! I would celebrate by having a big party for the staff with our favorite menu items being served to the staff on the lawn in the vineyard!!
Tell us anything else you want about this company that you suddenly realize we haven’t asked you about, but you’re sure will be the thing that puts you squarely into the winner’s circle! (Wait a minute! Can you put a square in a circle?)
Our staff has made sure to make residents of Southwest Michigan special moments so fantastic! This honor would give our staff a big thank you for bringing so much happiness to people who are local as well as visitors to our great area!
