In December, congratulations were in the air at Stadium Hardware. Mike Kruzel, soon to retire, was giving nearly everyone who walked into the store a bear hug or a slap on the back. His tongue was a little looser than usual too. Asked how two hardware stores–his and Ace Hardware–survive when they’re practically on top of each other, he laughed heartily and said, “Ace is totally different. People call it the ‘girls’ hardware store.’ And it’s girls–women–who call it that. Not guys.” He elaborates: “Well, you know, they are two different stores personality-wise and product-wise. They have the kitchen stuff, decorations, that kind of fancy crap!”
Kruzel sold his share of the store to employee Brian Bennick. Mark Mayne, also retiring from the business, sold his share to another longtime store employee, James Brustad. Mayne has been a partner since Kruzel’s father-in-law, John Siller, stole him away from another hardware store in town in the late Seventies. Skip Hackbarth, a partner in the store since 1999, will remain. Kruzel married into the store in 1983 when he wed Siller’s daughter Karis. He says: “I’m an Ypsi kid. Before this, I had a couple of bait stores with my brother.”
That brother, Bob, will continue to work at Stadium. “Nah, I’m not ready to retire,” he says, even though he’s older than Mike. “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”
Stadium Hardware, 2177 W. Stadium Blvd. 663-8704. Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
