New Owners Building up Heritage Marketplace in Middlefield
A partnership of five Amish businessmen is transforming a well-known property north of Middlefield Village.
A partnership of five Amish businessmen is transforming a well-known property north of Middlefield Village.
The most visible change to the 21-acre, multi-tenant parcel is the construction of the Pine Craft Storage Barns LLC production facility at 15920 Nauvoo Road.
Surrounded by dozens of models of newly-made tool sheds, play houses and storage buildings, the shop and offices of Paul Wengard were erected in just a few months, replacing his production operation on Madison Road.
Wengerd and local businessmen Jerry Miller, Nathan Stutzman, Robert Miller and Jerry Elliott teamed up just over a year ago to buy the property from Tom and Tina Mooney, who were ready to retire, he said.
The couple approached Wengerd with a serious agenda, he said.
“Tina said, ‘You are going to buy this.’ I said, ‘No way!’” he recalled, sitting in a spacious office that smelled of freshly cut lumber. “I didn’t believe it was possible, even with partners coming in.”
Originally, there were three on the team, but before the papers were signed for the sale, two more entrepreneurs had partnered up.
“The deal had to be restructured, but we got it done,” Wengerd said. “(The Mooneys) were very good to deal with. They made our transition a lot easier than it might have been.”
The partnership to buy the property was officially formed in 2018 and the sale was complete in May 2018.
Construction of the Pine Craft building started soon thereafter and Wengerd was eager to take up residence.
“I couldn’t wait to get in,” he said, adding the Geauga County Building Department was good to work with.
Since the complex is in Middlefield Township, Wengerd didn’t have to worry about zoning and was able to begin production of his sheds in October.
Several other structures in the complex have been repurposed.
The former flea market consisting of 12,000 square feet now accommodates three stores open six days per week — Valley View, selling books, gifts and fabrics; Mel’s Shoes; and the Yoder Bargain Shop, selling everything from microwaves to exercise equipment to sporting goods — Wengerd said.
But they haven’t given up on a flea market. Every Saturday and Monday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. — or when the crowd thins — a flea market will be held at the event center and in the parking lot, he said.
Booth space starts at $10 and anyone interested should call Jerry Mill at 440-477-1058, Wengerd said.
In the old auction barn, visitors can find Refound Treasures as well as multiple booths selling a wide variety of items.
North of Pine Craft, Robert Miller recently opened Heritage Trailers, where he sells and services Wells Cargo open and enclosed trailers
“We’ve been blessed with tenants who have a good foundation and visions in front of them,” he said.
The event center has a number of bookings for the summer, including a parking lot car show in July. Depending on demand, Wengerd said the partners envision building a new event center near the rear of the property and finding a tenant for the current building.
Jerry Miller is the event coordinator and takes care of grounds maintenance, Wengerd said.
He said the future of the complex is still under discussion. Business was better through the winter than they expected and has been picking up since the weather warmed up, so they are hoping the trend will continue.
But with about 50,000 square feet under roof, 35 people employed and seven buildings to take care of, Wengerd said he is learning new skills all the time.
“It’s a new wrinkle for me. I need to delegate,” he said.
He and his partners share interests and vision for the future and they are open to new opportunities.
“This place fell into our lap,” he said. “Doors kept opening for us and we kept going through and knocking on the next one.”
