Providing household needs during changing times has led to success for owners and employees of Tiffin Ace Hardware, 1550 W. Market St. They are hoping the community will share that success during a 50th anniversary celebration Thursday through Saturday.
Thursday, customers can bring in a coupon from the anniversary circular in The A-T and receive a scratch-and-win card, with savings of up to 30 percent off a transaction that day.
Friday, customers can realize a savings of $10 off a purchase of $50 or more.
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Tiffin Ace Hardware employees are shown here recently.
Saturday, customers can get a free, reusable shopping bag - and receive 20 percent off the items they can fit inside it.
During the three-day event, shoppers can sign up for a 50-second shopping spree to be drawn at noon Saturday.
The store's Christmas section will be open, with 20 percent off anything in the section. In cooperation with Ballreich Bros., the store will have a special of $2.99 for a 1-pound bag of potato chips.
The Deats family - current owners and managers, Jim Deats, and his son, Bryan - have been a part of the store for the past 40 years.
In November 1960, Merlin Brown started the business at that location, which consisted of several smaller buildings, including one with 4,000 square feet of space that housed the hardware. It was one quarter of the size it is today.
The other location was the Tiffin Dairy, Jim recalled, and then Goodwill.
In 1964, the store expanded to 6,500 square feet by enclosing what was an adjacent alley and knocking a wall out of the original store. In 1972, additional growth took the building to 11,000 square feet. In 1979, it expanded yet again, adding to the back and a rear entrance with additional parking and extra checkouts.
Jim began working for the Browns in 1971, and purchased a part in the business with Ray Brown and Merlin's daughter Carol. Merlin and his wife, Mildred, retired in 1985.
"They offered me the opportunity to become a part of the business," Jim said. "I was at the store manager's position."
Ray Brown retired in 1998 and Carol retired in 2003. The Deats family then purchased the rest of the store in 2003.
Over the years, Jim's sons Bryan and Brad, as well as his wife, Marilyn, have been a part of the business.
Jim said the store has changed with the local business environment, responding to customer needs.
"When downtown businesses were closed on Wednesdays, we weren't, (so) we were an option for shoppers," he said.
The store has been affiliated with Ace Hardware since 1982. Prior to that, it was an HWI store, Jim said.
"It's a dealer owned co-op," he said. "All of the dealers own stock, and it gives us national brand recognition and buying power."
There are 4,700 Ace-affiliated stores nationwide.
"It's the largest dealer-owned co-op," Jim said. "It allows individuality, yet provides some guidelines for conformity. Other than that, the stores can fit the personality of the marketplace, yet still retain the brand recognition of Ace Hardware."
For more information, contact Tiffin Ace Hardware at (419) 447-5280.
