Jamestown Business Hosts Family Garage Sale

JAMESTOWN, OH - The recession has forced people to economize more creatively than ever. People are doing everything they can to make extra money or supplement a family income.

Amie Eakle, of Jamestown, decided a garage sale might be a good way to make some extra spending money for her family vacation. She has tried unsuccessfully to attract bargain hunters to her garage sales in the past, but her rural location made that difficult.

"We live out in the country and we tried a sale last year but it was a flop," Eakle said. "So, we decided to have it somewhere else."

Eakle's father is Steve Hart, the owner of Countryside Propane. After purchasing the old Shawnee Branch of Security National Bank in July of 2008, Hart has been remodeling the building into his new business office.

With a well-traveled location at 3566 Jasper Rd., Eakle thought the office space and parking lot of her dad's business might be a great spot to hold the garage sale. Bargain hunters can find great deals on computers, air conditioners, a Husqvarna digital sewing machine, Longaberger baskets, clothes, printers, crafts, furniture and more.

Countryside Propane delivers bottled propane fuel to homes and businesses. Hart opened the business in 2000, but is by no means new to this kind of work. "I've been in the industry for 34 years," he said. "I liked the opportunity it offered me, so I decided to go into business for myself."

Countryside has a tank facility on Cottonville Rd., just down the road from Greeneview High School but moved the business office into the bank building in February of this year. It took some time to get things in order, however.

While the summer months are generally the best time to install a new tank or perform regular maintenance on propane-fueled equipment before the busy September heating season starts, the winter months leave little down time for propane suppliers.

"We were at the peak of our busy season," Hart said. "It was hard to do much with the building at that point."

The building needed renovation and Hart has been working on it steadily, replacing siding, repairing the roof, landscaping, and painting. A new illuminated sign tops off the exterior renovations.

Holding a garage sale at the service office of a business may seem odd, but these are unusual times. More often in this economy, families are combining resources however possible to maintain financial elasticity and quality of life.

The Eakle / Hart garage sale continues at Countryside Propane was held all day Friday but continues from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 18. For more information, call (937) 675-6320.