Q&A: Richner Hardware Has Been Helping Twinsburg Homes Since 1919

With a prime location in the city, you probably pass one of Twinsburg’s oldest establishments on a daily basis. But have you ever stepped inside to talk with two of Twinsburg’s friendliest, most helpful handy-people?

Twinsburg Patch sat down with Dave and Liz Murch, the husband and wife owners of at 9797 Ravenna Rd. to find out more about it’s history, how they get through tough times, and what’s next.

Twinsburg Patch: For a Twinsburg resident who has never stepped foot in the store, tell us a little bit about your business.

Liz Murch: It’s been here in Twinsburg since 1919, when my great-grandfather started it. As far as the business, it’s just a regular, old hardware store.

Dave Murch: We’re the oldest business in Twinsburg that is still with the original family. There may be people around here doing business in a facility or business that pre-dates us, but we are still in the same family and I don’t think anyone can make that claim.

TP: How do you develop a relationship with your customers?

DM: Basically by greeting every customer that comes in the door and trying to help solve their problem. They wouldn’t be here if they didn’t have a problem. I’m not doing my job if I’m not at least trying to come up with some kind of solution. I can’t always do it or have what they need, but if we’re not trying to help them, then we’re not doing our job.

LM: And you have to take the time to listen to them to see what their problem really is. Sometimes what they think is the problem, like plumbing or painting, is not always what the problem is.

DM: Yeah, some people come in ready to spend a small fortune and I tell them all they need is an O-ring for 59 cents. (Laughs) I never will make a good business man in that regard.

TP: Has it been hard trying to run a small business in a tough economy?

DM: Oh, yeah. And it’s not getting any easier either. The proliferation of the big-box retailers like the Home Depots and Lowes, and throw in Walmarts and Targets; you know, every time you slice a pie a little bit thinner, there’s less for Richner Hardware. You couple that with an economy and a government that doesn’t seem to understand and it’s a difficult situation to find yourself in.

TP:  What about working in a city like Twinsburg? How do you guys feel about this community?

DM: When we first married, we couldn’t get away from Twinsburg fast enough. We were young, educated and Twinsburg was no place to be. After eight years we came back and raised our family here, and I can’t imagine how our kids would have turned out if we had stayed in the Chicago suburbs. This is a good place to raise a family. Always has been. She grew up here (looks at his wife, Liz), born and raised here, and she turned out okay (both laughing).

TP: What is ahead for your hardware store? What does the future look like?

DM: Hopefully another five to seven years of being able to eek out a living and then we’re going to retire. Beyond that, who knows? Our kids went in another direction professionally and won’t change careers to come back. So, it’s just hard to say what’s going to happen after we get ready to retire. If our health holds up for another ten year, well, we’ll still be here.

LM: We’ve always been active in the community outside of the store. So, this community is our home. This is where our friends are and this is where we’ll stay.