New owner, name

A downtown Portland business has a new owner and a new name.

Adolfo Solis has purchased Progressive Office Products — now Progressive Del Toro Office Products — at 120 N. Meridian St. from former owner Faron Parr.

“Toro” (bull in Spanish) has been Solis’ nickname since childhood.

“My dad gave me that name,” he said.

As a boy, Solis was short, chunky and dark, and played a lot of sports. His father told him, “You don’t give up and you have a lot of energy.”

Solis continues to show that same determination as a businessman.

For the past 14 years, he has run VISTA Resources and Services, an employment/janitorial services agency in Portland.

Solis he was looking to diversify at the same time as his friend Parr was in the process of retiring.

“He asked if I would be interested (in buying the store),” he said. “I said yes.”

His only hesitation was a lack of retail experience.

“It’s a big jump,” said Solis.

Parr assured him that his in-store team — Casey Boggs, Jasmine Gerhart, Jeanne Houchins, Cecilia Johnston and Steve Lambert — would stay in place.

“I call them my Dream Team,” Solis said. “They are very good in what they do.”

His own role is learning. He’s at the store most mornings, getting to know vendors, customers and the ins and outs of the business. Meanwhile, with the help of his wife, Robin, he still operates VISTA.

Progressive Del Toro will continue to offer its current office products and services, including computer repair. But more could be coming soon.

“Within two months here, I realize there is so much needed” for information technology (IT), he said. “Jay County really needs it.”

Solis hopes to offer IT support plans for area businesses that include once- or twice-monthly on-site visits from technicians in partnership Derek Bogenschutz of Emerald Business Solutions, who does computer repairs for the store. That could involve hiring additional help.

He’s also thinking of adding a line of home security electronics to the products the store offers.

“I think it’s important,” said Solis. “Everyone appreciates safety … not only in their houses but in businesses as well.”

In addition, he plans to sell janitorial and cleaning supplies and to spruce up the shop’s interior.

And, of course, to put a new sign out front, complete with the Del Toro logo.

Solis feels he owes it to the community.

“Everything I have, everything I own, I owe to Portland, Indiana,” he said.

Twenty-eight years ago, he came to town to visit a friend. He spoke little English and had little money.

“I don’t know how I’m going to do this,” he remembers thinking.

But Solis found part-time work at Tyson Foods and was coping with the unfamiliar winter weather — Solis grew up in Mexico — when a blizzard hit.

He walked through the snow to his job, getting soaked in the process. Not surprisingly, he got sick that night.

“I could not breathe,” he said.

He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t even know where the hospital was.

At about 5:30 the next morning, he saw the lights go on in the house across the street. He had a nodding acquaintance with the people who lived there, so he went over and knocked on their door. When it opened, he didn’t know what to say.

“No good. Help. Hospital,” he managed.

The neighbors got him to a doctor.

“I have two angels across the street,” he later told his mother on the phone.

“You guys have some beautiful system that is just helping someone,” he said.

He’s grateful for the help he’s received from friends and neighbors, businesses, the chamber of commerce and elected officials.

“I could not make it without the generosity of so many people in the community,” said Solis. “I’m sure there are good people everywhere, but here (in Portland), it was just like a hug.”