The shelves are filled with the likes of C. Howard’s Violet Squares, Nik-L-Nip Wax Bottles, Squirrel Nut Zippers and candy cigarettes.
Puhala stocks contemporary and nostalgic candies, homemade fudge, sodas (including Mexican Coke) and specialty food items such as pasta sauces and apple butter.
All items sold at Bumpy’s come from Ohio distributors.
The store, named in honor of Puhala’s father Larney Cain, whose nickname was Bumpy, opened in July.
Puhala spent 20 years in retail, but said she always wanted to own a shop that was like the Little House on the Prairie’s general store — Oleson’s Mercantile.
“We want this to be a place where people can come in and it’s comfortable,” she said. “We wanted a place for kids and families to come where they can create memories like we had from when we were little.”
To establish her inventory, she said she asked everyone she knew what candies made them happy as children.
Then she had to find it all.
“I found things by making lots and lots of phone calls,” Lori said of the thousands of items found in the store.
Bumpy’s regulars Tammie Shaffer and her sons Joel, 11, and Grant, 8, stopped in for their favorite items Thursday, Feb. 11.
The family comes in for cinnamon bears, gummy hamburgers and cotton candy lollipops.
“They’re so friendly and they make sure they keep what we want in stock,” Shaffer said. “I’ll bet we spend $20 a week here, but you don’t mind spending money in a store where they take such good care of you.”
Puhala and her husband Scott, who now works with her after being laid off from his job, set out to do just that — take care of the customers.
Shoppers can place special orders for anything she can find in any amount because she said she’s in this for the people who walk through her door.
“Scott drove to Dayton for 60 special suckers for a teacher — it was only a $6 purchase, but that customer will be back,” Puhala said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0371 or elroberts@coxohio.com.
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