Mon, May 28, 2012, 9:35 PM EDT - U.S. Markets closed for Memorial Day

Big day for small business in Ohio

Chagrin Hardware, a family-owned business, has been in the heart of Chagrin Falls, Ohio since it opened in 1857. Hundreds of supporters flocked to the store all day Jan. 21, spending money in a veritable "Cash Mob" to boost business.

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  1. In the early morning hours of Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, Rob Schwind shovels the sidewalk in front of the Chagrin Hardware in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. The Shutts family, which has owned the hardware for the
  2. In this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, shoppers and long time friends Cheryl Black, left, and Sherry Williams hug Jack Shutts at Chagrin Hardware in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Black
  3. In this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, Chad Schron holds up two of the numerous notes from mothers over the last nearly 70 years allowing their children to buy BB
  4. In this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, collectibles mingle with hardware on the shelves of the Chagrin Hardware in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. The family-owned business has been the heart of the town s
  5. In this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, Rob Schwind heads outside to put up the American flag at the front door as Chagrin Hardware in Chagrin Falls, Ohio opens its doors for business. Hundreds o
  6. In this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, Steve Shutts, left, laughs along with his old friends Jim Black, center and Jim Calder at Chagrin Hardware in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Black wrote an email to
  7. In this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, Robert Schron, 8, stands in line with his purchases at the Chagrin Hardware in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Said Schron
  8. In this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, Jack Shutts, front right, works the counter as throngs of people wait to make their purchases at Chagrin Hardware in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. The crowds came t
  9. In this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, Megan Johnson counts money from a sale at Chagrin Hardware in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Megan is the daughter of one of the store
  10. In this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, as Steve Shutts, left, and Rob Schwind tally the day
  11. In this photo taken Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, a dog waits patiently for her owner to shop during a community "Cash Mob" staged at the Chagrin Hardware in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Hundreds of supporters of
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47 comments

  • BetterDeadthanRed
    BetterDeadthanRed  •  San Antonio, Texas  •  4 months ago
    Now that was good journalism! Why can't more stories be written about the good things that happen everyday across this country?
  • Megan
    Megan  •  4 months ago
    Cranston Brothers Hardware in Woodland California was opened by my Great Grandfather in 1898. It survived, family owned, for 105 years until Wal-Mart moved into Woodland.
    It is just sad that it happened. Small businesses give EXEMPLARY PERSONAL SERVICE. They care about the customers because the customer is their bread and butter.
    I think that all the small towns in the USA should start a movement like they did in Chagrin Falls......We have so many people who are struggling to make a living, and it would cause a revolution...........
    ................................BUY AMERICAN.......check the tags.......BUY AMERICAN.......
    GOD BLESS AMERICA
    Thank You, I Just Stepped Down Off My Soap Box.....
    • Justin
      Justin 4 months ago
      You should keep going Megan as more people would listen to you. Sadly they go to walmart to get the cheapest crap they can find. Finding that who cares about quality really though it will fall appart in half the time the higher priced(higher quality too) product lasts. Plus not many care anymore about customer service though they do when they've got a #$%$ cause they can't find they're cheap crap at the big box stores. I find it funny when I go to them as I use to work at a retail family owned small chain store like that. When I worked there I'd literially chace down customers to make sure they were getting what they wanted. Noone I've seen goes up and down in isles at box stores to at least offer an extra set of eyes to find what the customer needs. Least not around my city that has 1 Lowes, 2 Menards, and 1 Home Depot. I've not seen a single person less she/he was covering for another literally walk around the store to give assistance here. To me quality IS everything cause I've made the many mistakes of buying cheap crap having it fall apart on me when I've REALLY needed it.
    • Megan
      Megan 4 months ago
      Justin, thank you so much for your accolade. You make me proud to be an AMERICAN. Things need to be done to re-establish this beautiful country as the new leader of the Free World......We have lost so much in the last 2 decades. I love AMERICA, am blessed to live here, and want to get the American People back to SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. WE JUST HAVE TO.......GOD BLESS AMERICA.
    • cindazoo
      cindazoo 4 months ago
      I was at Walmart last weekend, the store was a mess, i think i have just made my mind up to start shopping the small stores again. Yell it from the rafters Megan, we all need to hear it.
  • Meg
    Meg  •  Miami, Florida  •  4 months ago
    Holy moly! It's "The Shop Around The Corner." Completely charming.
    • brick
      brick 4 months ago
      the whole town is like that. they are very serious about keeping the town traditional. my great uncle lived just up the road. gorgeous city in the spring and fall
  • Pam
    Pam  •  Mentor, Ohio  •  4 months ago
    I go to Chagrin Falls all the time. If I would have known, I would have made a special trip just to buy something. It's a great small town, with a huge heart. If we all could do that. The mom and pop stores would all be around today. thank you for one persons idea. You did make a difference.
    • Peter
      Peter 4 months ago
      It is never late to go and buy something.
  • Linda
    Linda  •  Grand Rapids, Michigan  •  4 months ago
    Wish I lived there, what a great place and people.
  • nick m
    nick m  •  Roseburg, Oregon  •  4 months ago
    Don't ask if they have a website for online shopping. Look for your own local businesses and support them. If we do everything online, we'll eventually put all of these little shops out of business.
  • DwightK
    DwightK  •  Cleveland, Ohio  •  4 months ago
    This is so wonderful it just shows you what people can do we have all the power lets take this country back.
  • A Yahoo! User  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  4 months ago
    What an awesome story about supporting small business in small town America! I remember going into the hardware store as a kid with my Grandmother probably 40 or 45 years ago as well as getting ice cream at the nearby ice cream shop in downtown Chagrin Falls, then eating it by the Falls. I live in Arizona now and haven't been back there for a while.
    Thanks for the story and thanks for the memories!
  • Emily
    Emily  •  Avenel, New Jersey  •  4 months ago
    very good story!!!! do they have a website we can buy from?
  • hth
    hth  •  4 months ago
    If only the whole country was close knit like this...
  • Mary Anne
    Mary Anne  •  Anchorage, Alaska  •  4 months ago
    This store was and is still the heartbeat of America. God Bless America ...
    • Arthur
      Arthur 4 months ago
      Hello Mary Anne
  • Carlos Álvarez, Arquitect ...
    Carlos Álvarez, Arquitect ...  •  Bogota, Colombia  •  4 months ago
    It's great to have people confronting the large surface superstores that are looming to destroy the small close knit community stores that have made cities worth living in.
  • Patrick Malone
    Patrick Malone  •  Barberton, Ohio  •  4 months ago
    This my home town. Great Story!
  • OOPS!
    OOPS!  •  El Dorado, Arkansas  •  4 months ago
    what a wonderfull story about great folks/owners and customers---way to go!!!!
  • Aaron M
    Aaron M  •  4 months ago
    This shop is awesome, miss going in there, I use to have to go in there every day when I worked at the paper mill around the corner, havent been in since the mill closed, but what a great store and great people working it! highly recommend visting it if ever in that area.
  • Corey
    Corey  •  Portland, Oregon  •  4 months ago
    Meg, I am so proud.
    Love, - your man - Corey
  • Jamie E
    Jamie E  •  4 months ago
    good!
  • tonispeaks
    tonispeaks  •  4 months ago
    Dear yahoo---this story inspired me ---I'm almost teary eyed when I finished reading this and is looking forward in patronizing our small town grocer who has been serving our community for 20 years. Please have more of this type of stories and less about self indulgent celebrities...Thank you--
  • Jonathan
    Jonathan  •  San Marcos, California  •  4 months ago
    The extra encouragement that the Shutts family received sure was great by the community support in their purchases in the Chagrin Hardware store. I am certain Rob and Kenny, Steve, Susie, and Jack appreciated the wonderful friendship and the money that help them. Jonathan Sciano.
  • kday
    kday  •  Portland, Oregon  •  4 months ago
    do they have a website for online ordering? Fantastic story. Uplifting and community oriented.
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