Our parents, Raymond and Donetta Klubnik, started our business in 1967. They began selling Troy-Bilt tillers from their home in North Royalton and at the Home and Garden Show, becoming the first Troy-Bilt dealer in the world.

In 1974, they opened the first retail location on State Route 82 in North Royalton. The following year a second location was purchased, an existing lawn & garden retail outlet, in downtown Medina.

There were five of us children and we were often dragged into the store to do cleaning or the dreaded inventory! As we each finished high school or college, we came back to the family business to contribute our individual skills. Donerae, Andrea, Michelle, Ray, Dan, brother-in-law Brett, plus Mom and Dad, all working together...we had our differences but we made it work and the company continued to grow from our joint effort and long hours!

In the lawn and garden business, dealers are crazy busy in the spring, pretty busy in the fall, with summer and winter being pretty slow (unless the grass never goes summer-dormant and there are lots of snow-dumping-blizzards all winter)!

In the mid '80s, our brother, Ray, introduced hot tubs as a way to even out the retail cycle. We all said, “Hot Tubs and Tractors? That’s crazy!” However, he enrolled us into what turned out to be a brilliant idea.

As new products were added, the downtown Medina store, which was already size challenged, became way too small. In 1995, a new facility was built on Route 18, in Medina, Ohio.

We expanded into sunrooms and enclosures and Brett took the lead. With spas, fireplaces, and enclosure, the name “The Tractor Place” no longer fit the business. A name was needed that could grow with the company and fit with all products.

After much discussion, "The Place", was chosen. “The Place” is designed to keep a tie to the past but with an eye to the future!

In 2000, we were devastated by the loss of our brother, Dan. He had been running The Tractor Place since Dad got Parkinson Disease. Dan was funny, competent, and reliable. His passing was a loss to our family and the family of clients Dan had served for so many years.

Mom retired many years ago and Dad passed over in 2005. Mom took good care of Dad for a long time and, although she misses Dad, is enjoying her retirement years.

After twenty years, Ray, with the help of his wife Cheryl, moved and opened a hot tub business in Las Vegas. Ray loves when his former clients and friends stop by when they are vacationing in Las Vegas.

Brett sold Kubota tractors at The Tractor Place before creating the sunroom division. Brett continues to create beautiful home additions under the name Albright Sunrooms and Home Remodelling.

My sisters, Donerae and Michelle, team with me to continue the family tradition of The Place. Each of us performs a different role in fulfilling the Corporate Mission. This is our commitment. We hope you will become part of our lives and history.

- Andrea Reedy, President