But time and a crumbling economy have taken its toll, and Gem City Hardware has gone the way of the corner grocery store, much to the distress of customers like an unidentified woman on the verge of tears as she departed with a going-out-of-business sale item.
“I don’t even live in Huber Heights but whenever I needed a certain item for my home, I’ve always found it here ... times have changed and big business has taken over,” said the woman. “I will miss Gem City.”
Linda Evans and her husband of nearly 40 years, Willie Evans, became sole owners of Gem City in 1959, after Willie Evans partnered with Beatrice Singer and Perry Gerson to purchase the business from Joe Liebold in 1957, when it was located at 3424 N. Main St. in Dayton.
When Gem City was moved to Huber Heights it was managed for 20 years by Bobby Evans, Willie’s son from a previous marriage.
“Because of the downturn in the economy, we eventually lost the home builders, one by one, and the last couple of years were financially tough,” said the 64-year-old Linda Evans, who’s a Wayne High School graduate. “The economy crush has a domino affect.”
Willie Evans, 84, has been confined to the family home in Bethel Twp. with advanced Alzheimer’s. “I spend as much time as I can with him every day,” said his wife. “He loves to take rides through the countryside ... doesn’t say much, but I know it’s best to keep him busy.”
She said her husband, a Tennessee coal miner and World War II veteran, worked for Delco when he came to Dayton.
A brother, Tom Paxton, worked at the hardware store for nine years.
Linda and Willie Evans have two children, Barbara Risner, who is a sixth-grade teacher at Bethel Twp. School, and a son, Garrett Evans, who distributes school reading materials. Linda and Willie Evans also have nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Store inventories were completed earlier prior to the selling-out sale and Linda Evans said the doors would be locked for good sometime in July.
Contact this writer at 937-236-6032 or mickeyz@zoomtown.com.
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