Seventy-five years ago, Stewart’s founders Jane and Dick Stewart created a service legacy that’s a cornerstone of the appliance store today
By Patricia Nugent
Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Stewart’s TV & Appliance store has expanded over the decades by relying on the same principals set forth by founder and father Dick Stewart in 1946: honesty, reliability and compassion.
Simply put, the second gen sibling team that runs the store today—Ed, Pam and Nancy—still believes in treating customers like family.
“Our father started the business out of his basement workshop on Marseilles Avenue in Elyria,” says Ed. “He was a true self-made man. After the war, he found he had a talent for fixing radios. He slowly grew a following and ended up opening a 30-by-30-foot building. When televisions became the new must-have luxury item for families, he began carrying them. Appliances grew from that, as we expanded the building, which now has two floors and hundreds of appliances to shop from. Along the way, servicing everything we sell was always important.”
Today the superstore carries everything from kitchen appliances (refrigerators, wine coolers, ranges, ovens, oven hoods, freezers, ice makers, dishwashers, microwaves, disposals, warming drawers, mixers, blenders and food processors), to laundry appliances, televisions and outdoor grills, to meet any budget.
Says Nancy, “I think if our dad were alive today, he’d be proud to know that people come from all over for the largest selection of the most dependable products, all including personable customer service.”
Grillin’ Season
With Memorial Day nearly here, and many folks finally doing more entertaining, now’s the time to buy or replace your outdoor grill.
Stewart’s offers every style of grill or smoker, whether it’s freestanding, built-in, table-top or portable, with all the top lines, including Weber and Broil King.
The perfect complement to any outdoor entertainment space, they’ve got you covered with outdoor refrigerators, beverage coolers and patio heaters.
Beating the Big Box Stores
Last year’s quarantining forced people to shop online more than ever, and for Stewart’s, that’s a good thing.
“Once people see that our prices are actually as low or lower than the big box places, they realize they can get the same products at the same prices. But with our superior service level, going with us is a no-brainer,” he says. “I’d say we’ve done more business online over the last 12 months than we’ve done over the past 12 years.”
The family added a virtual concierge service and live web chat to its website to help people find the right products for their needs.
Smart, Stylish Appliances
“Whether it’s for grills, cooking units or even some refrigerators, our customers are appreciating the benefit of using smart apps,” says Ed. “I think once people get used to conveniently connecting to the appliances that work for them, they’ll want even more functionality.”
Style has come a long way over the years, too. The avocado and gold colors from the 1970s have given way to sleek black, white and stainless. Matte finish is a hot trend, as are brushed copper, bronze or gold for the hardware.
“One thing I can say for many of our products is that currently there are delays,” he explains. “Due to the pandemic, lots of our suppliers simply can’t get us the products. The bottom line is, if you have a 15-year-old refrigerator or oven that looks like it’s starting to fail, don’t wait till it conks out to replace it.”
Sadly, in the midst of gearing up for their anniversary year, the Stewart family has also been dealt an immense loss.
Their beloved brother, Greg, passed away in February at age 53 following a sudden illness.
As vice president and service technician, Greg worked here for 35 years, starting out of high school.
“Greg was the link in our chain,” say the siblings, a man who could fix anything, “a real MacGyver.”
For the family, friends and customers he served so warmly and generously, Greg’s big heart and endless charm will be sorely missed.
Stewart’s TV & Appliance is conveniently located just a half mile past the Avon city line, at 468 Cleveland Street in Elyria. Hours are Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store is hiring, looking for delivery associates and appliance service technicians. Call 440-365-7321 or visit StewartAppliance.com for more information.