Sometimes we don’t appreciate things until they are gone. I guess when something is there all the time we sort of take it for granted. We grow to depend on it and just figure it will always be there. Well, it doesn’t always work that way.

While talking with local folks I learned that our little village of Fife Lake, Michigan had always had a hardware store. Now if you live in a big town, you usually have more than one to choose from and you probably have what are now called “big box” stores to choose from as well. In a village as small as Fife Lake, it is unlikely that we’ll ever have two hardware stores let alone a “big box” store. “Something” would have to freeze over before that would happen!

In bigger towns, businesses come and go without much fanfare. People just go someplace else to shop. In Fife Lake, when it was learned that the hardware store was closing, the news spread like wildfire. It was the hot topic of conversation over many a cup of coffee or glass of beer. At first people couldn’t believe it, but slowly reality began to sink in and then the “Sorry We Are Closed” sign appeared.

It was sad to drive by the building and see the lights out, no cars parked in back. Other businesses were affected as well. The hardware store was sort of the heart of the “downtown”. People started to adjust as best they could. We started driving 18 miles to Kalkaska to buy our nuts and bolts. With gas at over $3.00 per gallon, those nuts and bolts suddenly got much more expensive. You didn’t just run over to the hardware, you had to make plans and include it with your shopping trip to the big city. It didn’t take long before Fife Lakers wished that the hardware store would come back soon.

Two other people who wished that it would come back were Paul and Tina Broering.
Tina had worked in the store for years and probably knew the business as well as anyone. She was well known and liked by everyone who shopped there. Paul is also a fixture in town and always is quick with a smile and eager to stop and chat. As in most small towns, nothing remains a secret for long and the rumors began to circulate that they were trying to buy the remains of the business. Their persistence paid off and Paul and Tina became the new owners of Fife Lake Hardware. They immediately got to work with painting, decorating, and rearranging the layout of the store. The grand opening took place early in January and it was well attended by interested folks from the town and surrounding area. Free coffee flowed, and donuts and cinnamon rolls were enjoyed by all. The store looks better than ever and it is good to see familiar faces working there.

As a community we are glad to see Fife Lake Hardware open again! We will appreciate it just like we appreciate our new grocery store. We all need to remember what it was like not to have the hardware store, and support it as much as possible. Welcome back Fife Lake Hardware, Welcome Back Old Friend!