MIDDLEFIELD − A Stark County staple is expanding in Geauga County.
Hartville Hardware & Lumber is opening a new location in Middlefield on Sept. 12. The new store prioritizes demands of the community, with an expanded lumber yard and appliance showroom.
The company outgrew its previous store, the former Centerra Hardware and Lumber Center, as it gained customers in the Middlefield community.
“It was in town, and it was only five acres,” said Gary Sommers, CEO of HRM Enterprises. “There was not really room to expand.”
The new 175,000-square-foot facility features a 3,000-square-foot buggy barn to serve the large Amish community.
“Our construction company named it the Taj Mahal of buggy sheds,” Hartville Hardware & Lumber President Scott Sommers said.
Middlefield Mayor Ben Garlich said the completion of the new hardware store will ensure residents can shop for all necessities within the village.
“When I became mayor, I wanted to make sure this community had everything I needed to fill my needs as a resident,” Garlich said. “This was the last piece of the puzzle.”
Hartville Hardware & Lumber also has locations in Hartville and Coshocton, and operates Lehman’s in Kidron. Its Hartville location is the largest independently owned hardware store in the U.S. Its legacy in Stark County goes back 78 years.
Fourth generation expands family business
Brothers Scott and Gary Sommers are now the fourth generation to lead HRM Enterprises and Hartville Hardware & Lumber.
The business started in 1939 when their great-grandfather started a livestock auction.
Their family has some ties to Middlefield and Geauga County. Gary Sommers said his grandmother was born near Burton.
“It’s great to be part of this community,” he said. “We were welcomed here.”
The large facade on the back wall of the store is a mural representing the community of Middlefield. Its creator was another member of the family.
“Our sister is an art teacher at Lake Center Christian,” Scott Sommers said.
“We had to talk her into driving up here an hour, but she really enjoyed the project and was able to bring some of her students with her,” Gary Sommers said.
Features of Middlefield store include lumber yard, Unique offerings
The Middlefield store was tailored to the demands of the community. Gary Sommers said two demographics stood out: people in the contractor trade and the Amish.
“They will find just about everything they need,” he said.
At the previous Middlefield location, lumber was a bestseller. Scott Sommers said the lumber yard made up 80% of the business.
The new location has an expanded lumber yard and lumber drive-thru to meet that demand.
One offerings specifically oriented to the Amish is a selection of appliances by brand Unique.
“These are off-grid appliances, so our Amish community might really like these to upscale their kitchens,” Divisional Merchandising Manager Cindy Kandel said. “They are propane and off-grid with a battery ignition.”
The expansive store also has a full paint shop in-house.
Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County legacy business Hartville Hardware opens expansive new store in Middlefield
Reporting by Grace Springer, Canton Repository / The Repository
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