I wanted to fill a need. I want to make this a destination and put Thompson on the map. This is where I went to school, where I live and work and we’re here to stay. – Chris Hyatt
Chris Hyatt loves a challenge.
The owner of Hemly Tool, Hemly Hardware and Hemly Trucking saw an opportunity in Thompson and seized it.
In January, he opened Hemly Tool in the previous Crandall Ford location. The nationwide seller of precision tooling for manufacturing completely renovated the old auto sales structure. The old service bays, now carpeted and highly organized, house perishable tooling inventory ready to ship all over the country.
Hyatt said each day, shipments are directed to metal and polymer manufacturing customers locally and long distance. The office and showroom tackle daily orders and the building houses a custom crafted lunchroom with a table seating 20 staffers, a testament to the comradery of his working crew.
The building across the street, which used to be the body shop of Crandall Ford, is now home to Hemly Trucking. This division carries local shipments of tooling to companies like Steris in Mentor, Hyatt said, adding trucking shipments of aggregates for local area buyers like Keeney Stone and North Point Excavating are shipped out from the new Hemly Hardware.
Hyatt grew into the business, having worked there since he was 17 and now at its helm 26 years later. When asked how he has made this all happen in such a short time, Hyatt said, “I kept my head down and kept moving forward.”
The design for the entire operation is Hyatt’s brainchild, but he credits his dedicated and creative staff for making things happen.
Hemly, with its divisions, was not only able to retain its entire staff, but is looking to hire more personnel, Hyatt said, adding they have worked through the COVID-19 pandemic, kept construction going and have not skipped a beat in the effort to maintain a timeline.
Hemly Hardware sits 500 feet to the east of the Tooling Division and opened to the public on June 15. The parking lot has been bustling ever since, Hyatt said.
He said the retail operation already had a following, but needed more space.
“I wanted to fill a need,” Hyatt said. “I want to make this a destination and put Thompson on the map. This is where I went to school, where I live and work and we’re here to stay.”
The Thompson Township Trustees said they are happy about the new development.
“Just take a look at the finished Hemly property, it speaks for itself,” said Trustee Erwin Leffel. “What Mr. Hyatt has done for the future of Thompson is immeasurable. If you haven’t met him, introduce yourself and support his business.”
With proximity to I-90 and a lack of hardware and shopping opportunities in Madison, Geneva and Leroy Township to the north, as well as Montville, Orwell and Newbury Township to the south, Hemly Hardware aims to fill a void, Hyatt said.
The store is filled with displays organized by store manager Robin Gillette. Full lines of hardware, plumbing and outdoor parts, power tools and parts from Milwaukee and Diablo, Valspar paint and Do-It-Best lines are available to enhance homes and fix almost anything. The clothing line fills much of the front of the store with safety gear, Carhartt indoor and outdoor work clothes, work boots from Muck, Timberland Pro, LaCross and Red Wing.
There is even a children’s line and mini shopping carts for the small fry shopper.
“I cannot say enough about how excited the community is that we’re here,” Hyatt said. “Our goal is to be customer friendly and provide what you need.”
Contractor Tim Doerr, of TDC Construction, was a regular fixture on all three properties during the construction.
He and Hyatt have been friends for 20 years and he cheerfully accepted the push Hyatt put into getting the project completed on time.
“When the Do-It-Best rep came in February and was told the grand opening would happen July 4, he said it would never happen,” Doerr said. “He predicted the best we could do with a ground up construction was September at the earliest.”
But they kept on time and the grand opening is, indeed, set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 4. This will include a ribbon cutting, hayrides, food trucks, special sales and lots of giveaways, including power tools.
“Surround yourself with the best people and employees and that’s what happens,” Doerr said regarding making their deadline. “It has been awesome to build this thing in my own community. My sons and grandsons in 30 years will say, ‘Hey my dad (grandpa) built that,’ and that’s something to be proud of.”
Hyatt added, “Tim’s a Thompson guy through and through.”
Hyatt’s future plans for the hardware store include a full line of equipment to rent, such as bobcats, excavators and smaller residential rentals.
For now, they provide shoppers with hardware, home goods and décor, stone, mulch, gravel, nuts, bolts and steel by-the-pound.
