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Chillicotheans who think they must drive to Peoria to find hardware items may need to take a closer look in town.
Geiger True Value Hardware store celebrated its grand re-opening Friday and Saturday, and co-owners Tom Geiger and Ann Geiger-Knoll stocked the shelves with more items to help residents find what they need close to home.
“With the price of gasoline, we thought we could enhance the breadth of product,” said Geiger.
Instead of offering one or two of one kind of product, the store now may offer five or six, giving residents more options in the store’s selection.
It marks the first time the store has been completely renovated since it was built at 307 W. Walnut St. in 1983. The family owned business began in 1938 at 921 Second St., where Second Chance furniture store is now. In the mid 1990s the store changed some to accommodate Just Ask Rental.
The siblings saw the design of the store about four years ago in Atlanta. A 10,000-square-foot store, including walls, was modeled inside the Omni. In comparison, Geiger’s sales floor is about 12,500 square feet and rectangular in size.
“We were very impressed with the way it looked,” said Geiger. “It was very colorful and textural,” as it used color to accentuate the store and updated the mixes of products to coordinate better.
It left Geiger asking questions. “Wow, we could do this with our store?”
And his sister declared, “Our town needs this.”
To accommodate several thousand more items, the shelf space was changed from 5,- 6- and 7-foot-high shelves to all 7-foot shelves, except for the pet area.
They reduced the amount of storage, and added a couple hundred square feet of floor space, Geiger said.
Geiger’s now offers a full selection of cabinet hardware with more of a selection.
“It should benefit everyone, really,” said Geiger-Knoll. “Items are displayed nicer and it’s easier to shop.”
Some residents have asked if the changes were mandatory. Geiger explained that it was offered to them and they elected to do it.
“True Value made it financially possible for us to do this,” Geiger said.
True Value is a dealer-owned cooperative with about 5,000 stores, headquartered in Chicago.
Geiger True Value is the 33rd member of the cooperative, and the Geigers’ father, Marion, was at its initial meeting. He did not have $1,500 needed to become a member initially.
Chillicotheans who think they must drive to Peoria to find hardware items may need to take a closer look in town.
Geiger True Value Hardware store celebrated its grand re-opening Friday and Saturday, and co-owners Tom Geiger and Ann Geiger-Knoll stocked the shelves with more items to help residents find what they need close to home.
“With the price of gasoline, we thought we could enhance the breadth of product,” said Geiger.
Instead of offering one or two of one kind of product, the store now may offer five or six, giving residents more options in the store’s selection.
It marks the first time the store has been completely renovated since it was built at 307 W. Walnut St. in 1983. The family owned business began in 1938 at 921 Second St., where Second Chance furniture store is now. In the mid 1990s the store changed some to accommodate Just Ask Rental.
The siblings saw the design of the store about four years ago in Atlanta. A 10,000-square-foot store, including walls, was modeled inside the Omni. In comparison, Geiger’s sales floor is about 12,500 square feet and rectangular in size.
“We were very impressed with the way it looked,” said Geiger. “It was very colorful and textural,” as it used color to accentuate the store and updated the mixes of products to coordinate better.
It left Geiger asking questions. “Wow, we could do this with our store?”
And his sister declared, “Our town needs this.”
To accommodate several thousand more items, the shelf space was changed from 5,- 6- and 7-foot-high shelves to all 7-foot shelves, except for the pet area.
They reduced the amount of storage, and added a couple hundred square feet of floor space, Geiger said.
Geiger’s now offers a full selection of cabinet hardware with more of a selection.
“It should benefit everyone, really,” said Geiger-Knoll. “Items are displayed nicer and it’s easier to shop.”
Some residents have asked if the changes were mandatory. Geiger explained that it was offered to them and they elected to do it.
“True Value made it financially possible for us to do this,” Geiger said.
True Value is a dealer-owned cooperative with about 5,000 stores, headquartered in Chicago.
Geiger True Value is the 33rd member of the cooperative, and the Geigers’ father, Marion, was at its initial meeting. He did not have $1,500 needed to become a member initially.
The store not only carries items a regular hardware store has on its shelves, but it also has an extensive pet and Just Ask Rental departments. Homeowners may find the rental part of the business especially handy when they need something for a one-time or short-time use. Included are power tools, lawn and garden equipment, scaffolding, party goods (such as cotton candy or popcorn machines), carpet cleaning, floor sanding and more.
The hardware store also offers custom-mixed paint and color matching.
Geiger’s also sells Stihl outdoor power equipment. The company’s representatives also were on hand over the weekend. Local resident
Tim Gill showed his chainsaw carving expertise.
Along with the store’s products, Geiger-Knoll points to their friendly staff of about 18 people.
“A lot of them have been with us for a very long time,” she said.
