Hartville Hardware & Lumber has slowly but surely become a staple in the Middlefield community. The family-owned hardware retail and lumber business hosted a private ribbon-cutting ceremony at its newest location last Wednesday afternoon at 32650 Kinsman Road in Middlefield.
“We are so excited,” Hartville President Scott Sommers told The Weekly Villager. “I think we are excited because the Middlefield community has welcomed us so much. I will tell you one of my favorite parts is our team members, the team members that come from the surrounding community are so much fun to work with.”
Based in Hartville Township, the business opened its fourth location in Ohio in 2020 when it purchased Centerra Lumber in Middlefield in 2020. Hartville’s arrival in Middlefield was met with a warm reception, as Sommers noted that Middlefield bore striking similarities to Hartville Township.
According to Sommers, one of the biggest similarities was that although Middlefield was a rural community, it was not too far away from urban communities. He added that Middlefield residents also possessed the same work ethic that Hartville Township prides itself on.
Hartville Hardware & Lumber broke ground on its new location about a year ago, moving from a 10,000 square foot building to a 70,000 square foot location. Sommers said that Hartville’s Middlefield location closely resembled the Hartville Township location — with a few key distinguishable features.
Some of Hartville’s new features include a large selection of decking and railing, a building materials showroom, increased stock in interior trim, complete tool selection for contractors and woodworkers, new power equipment and cordless outdoor tools, a countertop design center and a strong emphasis on appliances with flooring and installation services.
Sommers said that the new store followed Hartville’s core values in customer relations, treating all customers as the Hartville team members would want to be treated themselves.
On Wednesday, Hartville hosted a private opening ceremony which included a tour around the store, including the lumber yard located in the back of the store. Several key Hartville team members delivered brief remarks about Hartville’s different departments.
Divisional Merchandise Manager Cindy Kandel conducted a tour of the countertop showroom.
She said that Hartville partnered with house brands for the countertops and also offered off grade appliances, which directly appeal to the Amish community of Middlefield.
“We think it is a great experience for customers to come in and look at large courts” she said.
Divisional Merchandising Manager Mark Coblentz then held a tour of the appliances department. He also spoke of Hartville’s lumberyard, calling it one of Hartville’s best features in its Middlefield location; it provided a different experience for customers. He added that Hartville also focused on a variety of different power tools.
Vice President of Building Materials Matt Maranville showed Hartville’s housewares department. “When you visit a showroom like this, it is compelling for people to purchase products from us,” he said.
Divisional Merchandise Manager Cody Miller then discussed Hartville’s increased stock in interior trim, hardwood boards and hardwood plywood. He said that the interior trim allowed customers to purchase decks andwindows for big for improvements within their households.
The final stop on the tour was in Hartville’s lumberyard, which featured a drive-thru entrance for all customers. According to Sommers, 80% of Hartville’s business at its previous location in Middlefield was focused on lumber. He added that the layout of the lumberyard was specific to minimizing forklift drive time. “The whole idea is to allow contractor customers to get out quickly and leave our yard,” he said.
The lumberyard also featured a buggy shed, which allowed Hartville to accommodate the Amish community for lumber purchases.
HRM Enterprises Chief Executive Officer Gary Sommers offered a few remarks as the tour concluded at the front of the store for Hartville’s inaugural ribbon-cutting ceremony, talking about how the business originated with his great grandfather in 1939 and the personal connection that the family had to Geauga County, noting that his grandmother was born in Burton.
River Kale, a representative from the office of Congressman Dave Joyce, presented the Hartville team with a proclamation on behalf of Joyce, congratulating them on opening their new store.
Middlefield Mayor Ben Garlich also offered welcoming remarks about Hartville’s new store. “What an investment and what a draw it is for our community,” he said.
Scott Somers told The Villager that while Hartville has no immediate plans to open a new location, he said that setting a strong base in Middlefield will create new opportunities for the business.
“We are so focused on this, but the goal is to set ourselves up here and someday there will be another opportunity,” he said. “We don’t know where that is going to be yet, but we hope that after we get ourselves established it will come.”
