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Local News

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Owner plans to close Gaslight Gifts after 26 years in downtown Findlay
Hanco EMS
By LOU WILIN

STAFF WRITER

Gaslight Gifts, the former Ben Franklin store at 408 S. Main St., will be going out of business.

The exact closing will depend on when all the merchandise is sold, owner Jim Marckel said. The building also is up for sale.

Marckel, 65, opened the store 26 years ago to long lines of people.

Customers "wiped the counters clean," Marckel said. "I had to restock over $35,000 worth of inventory."

Marckel came to Findlay from Lansing, Mich. He was managing a Woolco store, when it and all the other Woolco stores were closed by the parent company Woolworth.

Marckel began looking for another store to manage or an opportunity to own one.

Through contacts, he learned of the Ben Franklin stores and prospective retail sites in several cities, one of which was in downtown Findlay.

A TG&Y store had recently closed at the 408 S. Main St. building, and Marckel viewed the building size and Findlay location as just right. It was nearer to family. He was from Alliance and his wife, Donna, from Akron.

It turned out to be a good move.

"People in Findlay have been supportive all these years," he said.

His recipe for success as a small business retailer is simple: "The right merchandise at the right price, the right hours and taking care of the customer," he said.

Marckel graduated from Kent State University in January 1968 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Three months later, he got a less cheery piece of paper: A draft notice to the Vietnam War. Serving in the infantry, he nearly lost his life in 1969 when he was struck by shrapnel in the chest, arms and face in a firefight near Cambodia.

"I felt like a truck hit me. I thought, 'This is it,'" he said. "But it wasn't."

He spent eight months recovering in Ireland Army Community Hospital, Fort Knox, Ky.

After he recovered, he landed a job managing a Woolworth store in Fort Wayne, Ind. He was promoted to various stores in the Woolco division over the next several years, before coming to Findlay.

For much of the time Marckel has had the downtown store, much of Findlay's retail growth seemed to be headed elsewhere, to the east side of town. But he never seriously considered following the trend.

For one thing, he could keep his store closed on Sundays, which is not an option in many locations outside downtown, he said.

He would rather be "honoring the Lord with rest on the seventh day."

"It's been well worth it," he said. "I know I could have made more money being open seven days, but that's all right."

He also simply likes being downtown.

"Downtown is where it's at," he said.

Wilin: 419-427-8413,

Send an e-mail to Lou Wilin


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3 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
Whopper wrote:
bummer
“ that stinks. I love that store. Very convenient location for me to stop in for a variety of things. ”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 11:57:42 AM
Debi wrote:
Sorry to see you go
“ I am saddened to hear that Gaslight Gifts will be yet another downtown business to close!! Thank you for your support of downtown all the years past. Good luck to you. ”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 9:44:38 AM
Kris Cupp wrote:
I will miss it!
“ I live out of town, but have worked in Findlay for over 30 years. I have shopped so often at this store and have always loved the inventory they carried. It had a very inviting feel to it and I found things there that many times I couldn't find elsewhere. I will miss your store! Thanks for all your many years of service to the community! ”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 8:40:54 AM
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After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

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CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
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With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.