After 75 years, Associated Buyers True Value closing. The store had something for everyone
FREMONT ― Associated Buyers True Value Hardware is closing after 75 years, with the line for their clearance sale stretching out to South Stone Street on Thursday morning.
The owners have decided it is time to retire, and to close their shop at 115 S. Stone St. that is considered a landmark for the Fremont community.
In an effort to sell as much as possible, a sale started Thursday morning. The store started as a buyer's club, complete with memberships. Using that mailing list, owner Ed Schultz sent out notices of the pending closure and sale, with discounts on everything in the store.
According to Schultz, the line to get in o building stretched to the road at 8 a.m. Historically, the store has not opened until 10 a.m. They did open an hour earlier than usual. South Stone Street had periodic traffic jams with cars blocked in and vehicles parked across the street, on the dirt roadside and at local businesses. Employees had to make announcements that cars were blocked in and certain vehicles needed to be moved in order to let people out of their parking lot.
Hardware has been open 75 years
"The store started 75 years ago, by a husband and wife by the name of Weldon and Gladys Berlincourt. Shortly thereafter, my father, Donald Schultz, came to work for them. Then in the early 1960s they decided to retire. They put my dad in charge of the store and made it to his advantage to purchase the store and the property," Schultz said.
Retirement was a hard decision. Schultz all but grew up in the store after the Berlincourts had retired.
"They retired to Florida. As soon as they got to Florida, he passed away. Never got to use the brand-new house," Schultz said.
The Schultz family grew up in the store
"I was born in 1950 and we came to work, as kids, and packed up bags. So, we grew up with the business," Schultz said. "With my father passed 24 years ago, today, the business was turned over to us. We kept it going, and now we're getting to the age that we want to retire. Of course, there are no family members who want to take it over."
He has a brother and a sister still involved in the business, Donald Schultz, and Sandra Kleinoeder.
"It's been very good to us over the years. But it's time to slow down," Ed Schultz said.
Hardware started as a membership club
Associated Buyers' loyal customers are looking to get last-minute deals.
"Toward the later years people said they didn't want to pay $5 for membership," Schultz said. "Well, fine, we opened up to the public, probably 12 to 15 years ago."
Everything is now for sale. Schultz expects it to take several weeks to sell everything, including the fixtures.
He's not exactly sure what he's going to do in retirement, but he knows what he will miss the most.
"The people. I've got such quality people. I know most of them by first name, the customers. I've even recruited ex-employees to help out," Schultz said.
He's also going to miss the former employees. Michael Kiser, who worked for more than 30 years, came back in retirement. He started at the store when he was in high school. He waved a hello before running off to help move an appliance that someone had purchased.
They will be open every day, except Sunday, for an estimated eight weeks, or until everything is sold.
"Oh, my heavens, I've shopped here for maybe 40 years," Carolyn Michael said. "I just love this store. I hate to see it close up."
She remembers significant purchases: a dishwasher, a washer and dryer, and little things.
"Right now, I'm getting toilet-cleaner stuff. A necessity," Michael said. "This was a great store. Whenever you couldn't find anything, you come here and you would find what you needed."
rlapointe@gannett.com
419-332-2674
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Associated Buyers True Value in Fremont OH closing after 75 years
