TOLEDO, Ohio — Titgemeier's sits on Western Avenue in south Toledo. It has been a staple in the area since 1888, selling bird feed and much more while trying to keep it all local.
"Almost everything we buy is from Ohio," Co-owner Kip Nickerson said. "Everything's going right back into the community."
But the store may have to close its doors after being in business for 135 years.
"I think it would be rough, obviously for us, but I think for the community it would be a big loss," co-owner Nick Stambaugh said.
Nickerson and Stambaugh have worked at Titgemeier's for around 20 years and took over ownership in 2017.
But recently, they've found themselves in a financial bind. They say they had to pay for a major electric repair and bought a large amount of grass seed that has been difficult to sell.
"The other expenses we've had this year all added up and hit us all at the same time," Stambaugh said.
They expect to have an easier time selling their inventory in the spring, but getting there is the hard part.
"Sell some grass seed and fertilizer and stuff like that we have in stock, I think we would be OK, but we have to get there first," Nickerson said.
So, they are turning to the community for help and set up a GoFundMe to help recover and stay open.
"It's not something you really want to do," Stambaugh said. "It's kind of the desperate time, desperate action type of deal. We've exhausted a lot of other avenues and it's kind of a last-ditch effort."
They plan to use the money for debts they have to get back on their feet.
"Before we're like 'OK, we got to sell off the inventory and close the doors,'" Stambaugh said. "We don't want to do that. But if it comes to that then that's what happens."
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