Locals may remember Terri Vechery as the lucky winner of the Queen of Hearts drawing at SkyLanes in Garrettsville back in 2016. With her single ticket, she won the jackpot of over $3 million. Often, winnings of this size tend to negatively impact the prize winner, but Vechery has managed to maintain her equilibrium. She remained in her hometown, using the windfall to enrich both her family and her community.
The winnings offered Vechery with an opportunity to establish Hexagon Family Enterprises to provide hers and her late husband’s children and grandchildren with business opportunities and a legacy. Recently, she and her family opened the doors of their most recent endeavor — Next Door General Store – an idea that’s been in the works since 2017.
This new business provides locals with access to all manner of bulk food items – including candy, pasta, oats, specialty flours, spices and baking items all available by the ounce or pound.
In addition, Next Door sells jarred goods including jams and jellies, salsa, relish and pickles.
Vechery will run the shop alongside son, Jim, daughter-in-law Anita, and family friend Michelle Jaye. Grandchildren Kevin, Zoe, Arthur, MacKenzie and Cam are on staff as well. “We offer anything in bulk – either we have it, or we can get it for you,” Vechery shared. Future plans include hosting events like classes led by family bakers — daughter Martha and granddaughter Zoe.
In addition to providing a legacy for her family, Vechery used a portion of her prize to help support local restoration and economic development opportunities in Mantua. Through her involvement with the Mantua Restoration Society, she’s aided in support efforts of historical preservation of the Mantua Center School and Township Hall; as a part of the Downtown Mantua Revitalization Corporation (DMRC), she’s helped the Village become a more vibrant, livable town.
In fact, the family’s roots in Mantua run deep, as Terri’s father owned Mantua Lumber, which was located where Advanced Rehab now resides. Next Door General Store is in the same 1905 building that housed the drug store where Vechery worked as a high schooler. Hexagon Family Enterprises owns the building where Next Door General Store resides. “It’s amazing how we can recycle these buildings and businesses,” Vechery noted.
The Next Door General Store is located at 467 West Prospect Street, off State Route 44 in a renovated 1905 building in Mantua. The store is open Monday through Friday from 10 am until 5 pm and Saturday from 9 am until noon. Find out more by calling (330) 755-0076, visiting nextdoorgeneralstore.com or visiting Next Door General Store Bulk Foods on Facebook.
