When Frank Sales opened in 1934, it consisted of a truck stop that had a gas station and a diner, and sold tires and garage doors. The diner, which was called the Dixie Lunch, had customers from all over pay it a visit.

Ohio 25 was the main highway in Bowling Green and U.S. 6 was not yet in existence.

The business was located on South Main Street and Gypsy Lane Road, where Midas currently is. In 1946, Frank Sales moved to its current location at 891 S. Main St.

After 40 years in business, Homer Frank, who started the business, closed the diner. He retired in 1983 and turned it over to his son, Warner, known to the community as J.R. Five years later, Warner Frank bequeathed the company to his son, Dana, who is still the owner/president of Frank Sales. Warner Frank retired in 1996.

Andrea Blasius, who has worked for the company for nearly 24 years, has been the general manager for the last two decades.

“We sell kitchen appliances, refrigeration items, microwaves, washers, dryers, dishwashers, TVs,” she said. “Normal kitchen and home items.

“It’s going well. We’re celebrating 90 years.”

Frank Sales has stayed in business because of the products and services it offers.

“I believe the reason (we’re successful) is because we’re a family-run business. It’s a small business, we know our customers on a first-name basis,” said Blasius. “Customers joke with me that I remember what appliances they have. I have a knack for people and remember what they bought, and how long they’ve had it.

“We are a family-run business. I feel like we’re all family here. I’m not legally family, but I’ve been here for so long.”

As you might expect, the responsibilities of owning and operating a business can be overwhelming and exist indefinitely.

“We have your normal things that you’re dealing with like computer programs, service inventories, all those things play into it. It seems like you’re always dealing with something,” said Dana Frank. “It’s one of those things where it’s a seven-day-a-week job. Maybe an alarm goes off, and you’ve got to deal with that; it’s always something. This morning, it was the computers.”

The success is a result of the credibility built up in the community

“(It’s about) dedication and commitment,” said Frank. “We’re pretty committed and pretty dedicated at what we’re doing.

“It’s great to have customers that have known the family for so many years.”

The company doesn’t outsource any of its work.

“Items that are purchased from our store — customers buy from us, we service it, we deliver, it’s all our employees,” Blasius said. “You don’t have to worry about Joe Schmo coming into your house. It’s people that we’ve hired and trained ourselves.”

Blasius says there is one full-time and one part-time salesperson, but she and Frank perform those duties as well. There’s also a service technician that has been employed there for over 30 years.

In 1988, after Dana Frank took over, he also purchased a store in Port Clinton, which is owned and operated by his son, Chris.

“We have about 18 people at both stores, it just depends on the time of the year; we have some part-time employees. It’s kind of a split, mixed deal: in the offseason, we have about eight employees at each store,” said Frank. “Most of the people that work for us have been here for long periods of time. There’s a small amount of turnover, but in the general, in the overall scheme of things, people have been here for a long time. People usually retire from here.”

The company can be reached at [email protected] or 419-353-8761.