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Martin family plans a new ventureMIDDLEBURY, Mar 29, 2009 (Goshen News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The economy is in bad shape. The Martins have heard the news. In fact, they sound tired of hearing it. "We've chosen not to operate out of fear of our economy," Gloria Martin said last week. "Rather, we're moving ahead, and we're going to be ready for the good times that are coming." "We're kind of tired of hearing about the 'fear factor' from everybody," Larry Martin said. "Somebody has to operate out of the positive." That positive approach has led the Martins to a new business venture. Middlebury General Store is set to open in mid- to late April. The store will be a neighbor to Rulli's restaurant in the plaza along U.S. 20. It includes about 1,500 square feet, with about 1,250 square feet of showroom. The Martins operate the Ace Hardware along Ind. 13 on Middlebury's north side. The business has several different divisions -- hardware store, lumber yard, floral shop, gift shop and a commercial division. They also have a "hardware store on wheels" that caters to the Amish community. The new project will be an old-time general store with country charm, according to the Martins. Gloria said Middlebury General Store will have "a collection of yesterday's memories and today's needs at value prices." Gloria said she thinks people are looking for warmth, comfort and nostalgia. "In other words, kind of back to basics," she said. The word "general" lets the Martins be inclusive. "By saying 'general store,' that leaves us wide open," Larry said. The new store's offerings will include hardware items, old-time candy, "I remember that at grandma's house"-style toys, and home decor. "Our decor's going to be the old-time decor concept," Larry said. "Then we want to fit our product in to go along with that line." Gloria said there are different aspects to country decor. "The younger generation is liking some things about the country decor," she said. "What they're liking about it, it's become sleeker, more modern. "They're looking for less clutter," she later added. "And what they're getting with some of this decor I'm going to have in there is they're going to be able to then put it in with their traditional sofa. There might be a braided rug under that traditional sofa. There's that option of mixing this decor." Gloria said the idea is to market to younger and older ends of the consumer spectrum. For customers, the feeling she's trying to evoke is of walking into a room and smelling something good in the oven. "Your senses come alive," she said. Customers can also enjoy free popcorn at the new store. Larry said orders can be made from the general store, and the Martins have a goal of being able to cross-reference between their two businesses and reach a larger area. Also, he said, "We'll be able to work back and forth on our floral and gift shops." The Martins credit their son Shannon with coming up with the idea for the general store. "Our kids are very creative," Gloria said. Daughter Janae is an interior designer in Dallas. Their son Kyle, also in Dallas, is pursuing a doctorate in evangelism. The Martins summed up the business approach: Kyle does the praying, Janae does the marketing and Shannon does the thinking. "Not that we all don't pray," Larry said. Larry said some of the fixtures are being made up by a couple of Amish-run companies. "So we're incorporating local labor here to help in the store," he said. The Martins have received positive feedback about the new venture. "We're talked to a lot of people who are our age, and they all just kind of sit there and smile," remembering the general stores of their youth, Larry said. They also tell the Martins what they recall buying in those stores. "We have been talking to people and mostly listening to people," Gloria said. "If you listen to customers, you learn a lot. And they like to see things happening. They want to see beyond (the economic downturn). "If they see things happening and they see their Ace Hardware people being excited about the future and what's ahead, I think that's important because then we're providing some hope, we're providing some new growth," she added. "And whenever you do that, people get encouraged." Middlebury General Store hours are tentatively set at 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The general store is separate from another family project on the horizon. The Martins have bought land south of town, and hope to build another store there next year. To see more of the Goshen News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.goshennews.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, Goshen News, Ind. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |