Steve Columbare has the best of both worlds as a retail business owner - he enjoys the company of his employees and his customers.
Columbare has been the owner of Everyday's True Value, 797 Foote Ave., for two decades and will be celebrating this achievement during a 20th anniversary sale from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Sale specials include a 20 percent discount on items priced under $50 - some exclusions apply - nine prize baskets, with a combined value totaling more than $900, and free door prizes, refreshments and hot dogs
Columbare said his employees and his customers are the reasons he enjoys his job.
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Everyday’s True Value, 797 Foote Ave., will be hosting a 20th anniversary sale from 8 am. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Sale specials include a 20 percent discount on items priced under $50, nine prize baskets, with a combine value totaling more than $900, and free door prizes, refreshments and hot dogs.
P-J photo by Dennis Phillips
"My employees are like family. Most have been with me the whole 20 years," he said. "I think my employees enjoy what they do. I have people in their 70s working here that don't have to. They like being here and seeing their friends."
Columbare said he enjoys the environment of owning a hardware store because he gets to assist people.
"People come here because they have a problem to fix. We help people solve problems," he said. "I enjoy seeing customers regularly. The customers become friends because we see them so much. This is a wonderful work environment. I'm not in any hurry to retire."
Columbare said 20 years ago his goal wasn't to own a hardware store. In fact, he just wanted to own any business in the area.
"There were all kinds of possibilities. This was available at the time and it seemed right," he said. "I think (owning Everyday's True Value) has been good for me and my family, and my employees."
There have been a few changes made by Columbare through the years at Everyday's True Value. In 1993, he added a Just Ask Renal, which expanded the depth of offerings in all the store's departments. In 2002, an outdoor power equipment sales and rental was started in the adjoining building. The business sells and services the full line of Husqvarna outdoor power equipment. With the addition, the business has 20,000 square feet of selling space.
Business departments include tools, hardware, paint and paint sundries, plumbing, electrical, lawn and garden, housewares, lumber and building supplies and materials and outdoor living accessories like barbecue grills and furniture. The business has special services like window and glass repair, glass cutting, screen repair, delivery, pipe cutting and threading and propane tank filling. The business also has a full line of Weber barbecue grills.
"Everyday's is fortunate to have a wealth of experience in its employees," Columbare said. "Many have 20 or more years worth of experience in retail hardware business, as well as experience in the building trades. All told, there is well over 200 years of retail hardware experience at Everyday's."
Customers can also receive Everyday's True Value ship to store service. Customers can order items online at www.truevalue.com and pick it up at the Foote Avenue location.
The business is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 484-7188.