HOW THE DOUGH HOOK WAS BORN:

Our Story...

The Dough Hook is a meat market, deli and a bakery offering fresh cut meats, Amish meats and cheeses and made from scratch baked goods.

We pride ourselves in the freshness of our products. All of our meat is hand cut on site with most of it cut to order! If you need a steak or roast or even pork chops, you simply ask one of our smiling faces as we custom cut each cut of meat as it is ordered. All of our beef is locally sourced, hormone and antibiotic free and bought from a supplier right here in Ohio! We know our beef is the best because second generation owner, Marlena Ballinger has been cutting meat since she was 5 years old! Her parents founded the shop and her grandfather was a cattle farmer and beef buyer for several butcher shops in the area.

Our deli boasts Troyer deli meats and cheeses. Troyer Cheese is located in Holmes County, Ohio which is home to one of the largest Amish communities in the country. Similar to The Dough Hook, Troyers is a family owned business that prides itself in the quality of its products and the customers they serve.

The Dough Hook’s bakery is what gave us our name. The recipes are all from family recipes, or creations of The Dough Hook’s fore-mother, Sharon Calvelage. Her cinnamon rolls were the highlight of her early days at the Bluffton Farmer’s market while her chocolate chip cookies are among the favorites of her grandchildren! Each baked good is crafted by hand, in small batches with only the finest ingredients!

The Dough Hook is owned and operated by second generation owner, Marlena Ballinger. Marlena took over the family business in 2013 from her parents John and Sharon Calvelage. She is a graduate of Bluffton University’s BCOMP program which afforded her a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Marlena is the onsite butcher and learned the trade from her father, John Calvelage. Her family previously raised and processed all of their own beef, pork and chicken. The butchering techniques were passed down through the generations starting with her grandfather, Thomas Calvelage. Ever since Marlena could walk, she was right at the butchering table with her grandfather, father and brothers graduating from a butter knife, to a paring knife and finally an actual butcher’s knife! Today Marlena is knowledgeable in the cuts of meat and is happy to answer any questions you may have. The Dough Hook prides itself in the fact that all of its pork sausages are made onsite, from family recipes!

John and Sharon started The Dough Hook in 2008 after becoming successful vendors at the Bluffton Farmer’s Market. After owning and operating The Dough Hook for five years, they decided to sell the business to their daughter before retiring to enjoy their lives! If you are lucky, you could see them visiting the store (or even filling in for their daughter)!

We hope you give us the opportunity to prove to you that our products are the BEST in the industry! The Dough Hook is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. until Noon.