Wolff Bros., Tackett’s Bar-B-Que move east of Marion
MARION – The Harding Highway East area grew by two businesses in recent weeks, as a wholesale distributor moved into a new, larger facility, and a food truck operator with plans for a permanent location relocated from south of Marion.
Another business based in Findlay, Vapor Emporia, opened at 1295 Mount Vernon Ave., Suite 200.
Wolff Bros. Supply Inc. opened at 1878 Bealer Drive between U.S. 23 and Pole Lane Road in January after it outgrew its original Marion home at 1579 Marion-Waldo Road, where it made Marion its 11th location in January 2011, said Kelly Wulff, a company marketing associate.
“We moved to have more space, but we also needed a building (that) was designed for our operations,” Wolff said. “The brand-new building includes a will-call area, shipping and receiving docks, and extra warehouse space that suits our needs much better than the old location.”
The family-owned Medina-based company has had a 20 percent annual increase in sales over its four years of operation in Marion, and its staff has doubled from about seven employees to 14, she said.
The new building has 38,600 square feet compared with the previous building, the former OfficeMax building, which had about 22,000 square feet.
Wolff Bros., which was founded by Harold and Norman Wolff, is a wholesale supplier of electrical, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing equipment, parts and supplies.
The company will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. May 14. Counter hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. For more information, call 740-383-6714.
Tackett’s Southern Bar-B-Que
Tackett’s Southern Bar-B-Que opened Wednesday at its new location at Harding Highway East and Pole Lane Road, moving its food truck operation from Marion-Marysville Road, near Smeltzer Road, owner Clayton Tackett said.
“The traffic count is better,” said Tackett, who previously owned a downtown nightclub and pizza restaurant. “All the factories out here have no solution without driving over to (Ohio) 95. Our purpose is to be out here where we have a larger customer base. ... Unfortunately, we were just outgrowing the location.”
He said the family business grew out of his years of creating meals of pulled pork, beef brisket, sausage, spare ribs, beans and coleslaw for the “biker community,” of which he is a member.
“I was doing a lot of biker parties. Barbecue goes hand in hand with motorcycles,” he said. “We’re hoping to take the next step beyond that.”
Initial plans when he started the food truck late last year were “to move around, but for right now, we’re working on a few different things,” he said, adding that he plans to eventually have a “permanent solution.”
He and his family members run the business, but he expressed hopes that he will eventually add outside employees, as well.
His menu offers the Marion restaurant market unique fare, he said.
“Anybody can make a hamburger,” he said. “We do unique food. I think we do it as well as anybody can.”
Tackett’s will be at the new corner location “all summer.” Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call 740-262-3346 or 740-262-2800.
Vapor Emporia
Jamie Mundy said he opened Vapor Emporia — which offers electronic cigarettes from beginner to advanced, liquids to put into the e-cigs to create vapor, accessories and mechanical mods, which contain no electric component — “because I wanted a way to quit smoking and pretty much live a healthier lifestyle, and this seemed to be the way to do it.”
E-cigs can contain no nicotine or larger amounts of nicotine “to anywhere in between,” Mundy said.
A Findlay-area resident, Mundy said he opened a Vapor Emporia in Tiffin “and noticed customers were coming from Marion, so we decided to come here and open up.”
He said he is looking to hire one full-time and possibly a part-time employee. Starting pay will be about $8.50 per hour for the part-time worker and $9 to $10 for the full-time employee. He encouraged anyone interested in applying to do so at the store.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 740-386-5075.
jjarvis@marionstar.com
740-375-5154
Twitter: @jmwjarvis