From “Organic Way” to “The Place”

People often ask the owners of The Place, “Where did you get that name?” Well, here’s the history of how it evolved;

In 1967, Ray Klubnik bought a Troy-Bilt tiller and started tilling people’s gardens as a side job. He loved the equipment so much that he convinced Troy-Bilt, a roto-tiller manufacturer in New York, to make him a dealer, the first in the world.

Outgrowing their garage, Ray and his wife Donetta purchased a condemned house on Route 82 in North Royalton and turned it into a store. The following year they bought a dilapidated power equipment business, in Medina, at the corner of East Smith and South Broadway.

Organic-Way_before
Tractor-Place_after

They sold power equipment during the day and remodeled the two properties on nights and weekends. They turned the two eyesores into attractive retail and service stores.

All five of Ray and Donetta’s children, Donerae, Andrea, Michelle, Ray, and Dan, chose this business as their career, which rarely happens!

Over the ‘80s and ‘90s, the power equipment business changed, with manufacturers preferring big-box stores to independent entrepreneurs.The future didn’t look bright, so Ray, their oldest son, added different products to the mix until those categories grew enough to sell the power equipment business to Shearers.

However, adding Jet Skis and sunrooms made things confusing. Finally, they dropped “tractor,” leaving “The Place,” a name that allowed them the flexibility to change with the market but NOT have to change the name!

Residents know The Place as a trusted source for hot tubs, swim spas, fireplaces, patio furniture, and grills.

The-Place-Medina-exterior

Fifty-five years have brought many changes, but some things have stayed consistent: bringing value, quality products, and service to the Medina community. The Place has been voted “Medina County Best of the Best” for 11 years, winning every year since its category opened.

Fifty-five years have brought many changes, but some things have stayed consistent: bringing value, quality products, and service to the Medina community. The Place has been voted “Medina County Best of the Best” for 11 years, winning every year since its category opened.

Where are they now?

Donetta retired in 1985 to help raise her ten grandchildren, and Ray passed over in 2005, giving the leadership to Andrea. In the early 2000s, Dan joined his Dad at age 31, taken by undetected heart disease.

In 2004, their son Ray moved to Las Vegas and founded Hot Tub Liquidators. Like his parents, he started with just determination and grit. Over time, he created one of the country’s best hot tub retail stores.

You can still see Andrea, Michelle, and Donerae at the store, with a team of 25 dedicated experts taking care of each client like family.

Fifty-five years has brought many changes, but some things have stayed consistent: bringing value to Medina community and serving clients like family.

The Place has been voted “Medina County Best of the Best” for 11 years; winning every year since their category opened.
The-Place_Best-of-the-Best-in-Medina-Copunty