Wangler Hardware in business a century

A hardware store in Fort Recovery has hit the century mark.
Wangler Ace Hardware, 1711 Ohio 49, celebrated its 100th anniversary last week.
The five generation family business opened its doors in 1916 when Erhard Wangler set up shop in the village’s current downtown at 107 N. Wayne Street.
Since then, the business has worked its way through the family tree. Erhard’s son Cletus took the business over from him. His son, Bill, began working at the store prior to his teenage years and eventually made a career out of it.
Today it’s run by Erhard’s great-granddaughter, Patti (Wangler) Minor, her husband Mike and their son Matt.
The business has also extended outside the bloodline.
It hired Steve Schmitz in 1987. In 1993, he became an owning partner.
He now considers himself part of the family.
“The Wanglers have been awesome to work with. They’ve been treating me as a good as a son through all the years,” Schmitz said.
Patti and Mike have been at the helm since 1977.
Wangler Hardware moved to its current location in the Fort Recovery Industrial Park on April 1, 2001, exactly 85 years after Erhard first opened the business in the village. For nine years prior to the move, the business operated out of two locations just down the street from each other.
Matt Minor came aboard the ownership team in 2015, when he moved back to Fort Recovery with his wife, Erin.
However, he’s not all that green. He worked at the store throughout high school and during the summers in college.
He worked in lift truck business for 13 years prior to his return to Fort Recovery, but always thought he might come home.
“I think … I was always thinking in the back of my mind that I’d like to come back,” Minor said. “I love this area. I’m a small town guy.”
Now, he intends to keep the family business growing.
“You know, it’s exciting. There is some pressure, obviously because of the long-standing tradition that we’ve had here,” Minor said. “I hope to continue to grow the business and hopefully a sixth generation will be here someday.”
That sixth-generation may not be far off. Matt and his wife recently had a child.
But for now, Wangler Hardware will focus on what’s kept it chugging for the last 100 years.
“We just try to continue to focus on making our customers happy every day and hopefully the rest will take care of itself,” said Minor.