By MaryHelen Swanson

You could get paint and pipes and piercing tools, pointed pliers, ponchos and a pound of 10-penny nails and if you were a lucky kid, you could get the perfect present.

It was there on the top shelf on the west wall of the hometown hardware store - a red Radio Flyer.

These are some of the things Phyllis and Jim Bohaty had to offer in the hardware store in Rush City. Had, because they are now retired after 33 years in the business.

And in retirement, it being so new to them (about three weeks), well, they arenít sure what will be on their schedule next.

A little history

Jim Bohaty joined the Air Force out of high school, and that was a while ago because heís 74.
He did a four-year tour in the service, spending 13 months in Korea.

When he returned home to Willow River, he and his brother ran a hardware store there for 18 years.

Then in 1972 the Nessel Hardware store in Rush City came up for sale. The Bohatys bought it and it was their life for 33 years as of last September.

Actually, Bohaty and Duane Nessel were partners for the first five years.

There has always been a hardware store on the corner of Eliot and Main Street in Rush City going back to the early 1900s.

It may not be the same building, but the premise has been the same: friendly, helpful, courteous service.

Under Bohaty reign, the store was an Our Own Hardware, until about five years ago or so.

Today it is a Do-It-Best franchise, the company that bought out Our Own Hardware.

In the hardware business

Owning a business is a full-time job, for the Bohatys, that was six and a half days of work and then some.

The inventory doesnít just appear, either, and in the hardware business, there are spring and fall buying conventions to attend.

Wednesday morning, Jim Bohaty noted, it was six bells when he got to the store to unload freight.

Much of the rest of the time was spent serving the people of Rush City and surrounding areas.

It was the attention to the customerís needs that Jim Bohaty feels kept the store alive.

Turnover of personnel was small. They were wonderful employees, the two said.

Some stayed with them 10 years or more. In summer, on weekends and after school, high school students found a place to work.
Jim said some of them even stop by for a visit when they come home to RC.

Most interesting were the three male employees who had gone to high school together, gone to the cities together and then all three returned to work together at the hardware store again.

Over the years, the Bohatys agreed, they gained many good relationships in customers and other business people.

Plans for the future

Everybody has to ask - what are you going to do in your retirement?

But Jim and Phyllis arenít ready to answer.

For one thing, Phyllis noted that until that last monthís accounting is complete, theyíre not completely done.

But then, well, there could be some travel, but around the world is not on the itinerary.

Getting to know the United States might do.

In February they will do some traveling stateside with relatives, their first vacation in five years.

The recliner appeals to Jim now, but Phyllis isnít going to let him spend the next 15 years there.

And the chair might have to wait as Jim has his eye on some activities, such as devoting time to yard work that he loves, and who knows, he just might drop a fishing line at the end of their dock.

Heíll still be busy with his local activities, such as at church and the Chamber and Shorewood Sanitary District. And then thereís the VFW, American Legion and Masons.

Phyllis plans to continue work at church, on the Rush Estates Board and the community advisory board at the prison.

But most assuredly, the couple will have more time now for family, especially those five beautiful granddaughters.

The Bohatys might be retiring from the business, but as everyone knows today, retirement isnít what it used to be.

The Sistermans are new owners

Today if you need paint and pipes and piercing tools, pointed pliers, ponchos or a pound of 10-penny nails youíll have to ask Matt Sisterman at Rush City Hardware.

And some lucky kid can still get that perfect present - the red Radio Flyer on the top shelf on the west wall.

That is, of course, unless Matt and his wife Stacie move it to another location.

They are in the process of making a few changes by moving some things around, not to confuse customers, but to group things together a little more.

The Sisterman family took possession of the hardware store Jan. 4. Theyíve been busy getting a new computer system up and meeting the customers.

But they probably already know many, as theyíre not new to the community. They have lived here for five years and during that time, Matt Sisterman mused, he pretty much bought one of everything in Bohatyís hardware store.

Some things that Matt might add to the storeís inventory include more hunting and fishing items.

He might also add some power tools, as he tries to be more contractor friendly.

ìIf thereís something we donít have,î he said, ìwe can order it.î

The Sistermans intend to keep hours the same, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sat., and 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Sunday.

The couple even have the same staff. ìI came with the store,î quipped one employee.

Itís that staff and the personal customer service that Matt believes will work for his benefit to keep the business going.

Matt thinks Rush City is a good place to have a business, and a good place to raise a family, too. So on occasion, customers might be greeted by two little girls, Madi and Alli, who will share mom and dadís life in the hardware business.

Stop by and say hello to the Sistermans, your newest hardware business owners in Rush City.

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