Appliance store closing marks end of an era for Elkhart
ELKHART, Ind. (AP) - The owners and namesake of Higley TV & Appliance in Elkhart are preparing to close the business after 60 years and retire from the industry.
All of the mom 'n' pop store's merchandise is marked down. The business at 2901 Cassopolis St. will remain until everything is sold, which is expected to be around Labor Day.
Carl Higley's father started the business at his house in 1953. His grandfather joined the business three years later, when the store moved to its current location on the west side of Cassopolis Street just south of Windsor Avenue.
"When dad was in the Korean War, he went to school for refrigeration and that's what he did in the service," Higley said. "So when he came back that's what he knew and that's how he started."
His father got started performing repairs for a couple appliance companies in his father's garage. From that, Higley's father began selling extended warranties for about $2.
"That's what put my dad in business," Higley said. "From there he grew."
Higley was raised in the family business and has worked full time at the store for 42 years, much of that with his wife Lou Ann at his side.
"When he built, Cassopolis Street was dirt and the toll road wasn't here," Higley said. "We were the farthest thing outside of town, actually the county."
Higley TV & Appliance grew into selling and servicing appliances from 11 brands, along with a line of furniture and electronics.
"We've always serviced what we sold. If we don't sell it, we don't service it. That was a big factor for our vendor," Higley said. "We wanted to keep our customers our customers and not turn into a box store."
Now, Higley is looking to close the store on a positive note as he and his wife retire from the industry.
"It's time for another chapter in our lives, and from that standpoint we are looking forward to it," he said. "It's been a long time. It's been fun - a lot of good customers and good people in our community."
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Source: The Elkhart Truth, http://bit.ly/2auM5R7
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Information from: The Elkhart Truth, http://www.elkharttruth.com