ACC Party Rental, Inc boasts a remarkable accolade - all three of its current owners have been distinguished as Columbus Business First’s esteemed “40 Under 40” honorees.

Nestled at 3996 Columbia St, Hilliard, OH for the past 12 years, ACC Party Rental resides within the historic walls once occupied by the material warehouse of the revered Hilliard Lumber Company, overlooking Main St.

Founded in 1995 by the visionary Asa Craig Carter, ACC Party Rental embarked on its journey. In 2006, John Reese took the helm, steering the business towards growth. However, it was in 2022 when a new chapter unfurled as co-owners Brandon Sayre (President/CEO), Briar Sayre (VP/CFO), and Joey Jewell (COO) assumed stewardship.

Anchored solely in Hilliard, ACC caters to the vibrant communities of Columbus and western Franklin County for their event rental needs, stretching their reach as far as Indianapolis for grand occasions. Plans are underway for an additional warehouse in the Hilliard vicinity, a testament to their unwavering commitment to service excellence.

For the trio, entrepreneurship is in their blood. Raised in a family deeply entrenched in the rental business, their summers were spent honing their skills under their grandfather's tutelage. Brandon reflects, “We were born into this business, so it just seemed natural.”

They find solace in the supportive embrace of the Hilliard Chamber of Commerce, an entity dedicated to fostering an environment conducive to business growth. Hilliard’s welcoming ambiance, coupled with its pro-business stance and commitment to nurturing existing enterprises, has endeared it to ACC Party Rental.

Moreover, the warmth and camaraderie of the Hilliard community have played a pivotal role in cementing ACC’s reputation as the go-to destination for event rentals. In a bid to reciprocate the goodwill, ACC actively participates in various local events, underscoring their dedication to community engagement.

Their ethos is encapsulated in their motto, “Rentals for Life’s Greatest Moments,” epitomizing their unwavering commitment to making every occasion memorable.

For those seeking rental solutions for life’s most cherished events, visit ACC Party Rental’s website at ACCrental.com, or reach out via email at info@accpartyrental.com, or simply dial 614-876-0762 to connect with their dedicated team.

Hilliard Floral Design is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Located at 4120 Main St., the flower shop supplies single rose arrangements to the Historical Society for funerals of deceased society members. The owner is Christine A. Buroff.

Why did you choose to locate in Hilliard?

We moved from New Jersey to Hilliard for my husband's job. My husband and I were eating at a restaurant in Old Hilliard when we noticed a for sale sign in the window of 4036 Main Street
(our old location). We decided that we would buy it and that I would open my own shop.

What made you decide to open a floral business?

I started off at a flower shop in New Jersey and then worked at a few in Ohio when we moved. I really enjoy working in the floral industry. It's nice to have a job where you get to do something different every day.
What is your philosophy about supporting local events such as those at the Historical Society?
I always support local schools, businesses, etc. I feel like it's important that we all support each
other.

Do you have a mission statement?

We pride ourselves on providing excellent service and a product at a reasonable price.

For more information, including the flower shop’s Deal of the Day, visit hilliardfloral.com

hilliardfloraldesign@gmail.com
(614) 777-7795

John Vogelsang, owner of JRV Home Renovations, has worked for the Village in almost every building for the past eight years. He gave a rundown of the condition of buildings and talked about his work.

Overall, the Village is in good shape.

“They do a very good job of maintenance and upkeep. They don’t skimp on anything,” said John.

He is especially impressed by the construction of the church. He worked on it some eight years ago when the bell tower was leaning and starting to separate from the building.

“I put framing inside from the foundation up to the bell tower. There are new supports inside,” he said.

There is an attic or crawl space above the elevated alcove at the front of the church where one can see the infrastructure. “There are no nails. It is all pegs. It is awesome. The beams are enormous and interlocked,” said John.

Records at the society’s library show the men of the settlement built the church, which opened in 1876 at Alton Darby and Roberts Roads. The lead carpenter was Thomas Colwell, a relative of John Colwell who, back in the 1850s, opened his log cabin to the community for religious services, records show. The church is named for the Colwell family.

John’s most recent project was to refurbish and paint the siding on the caboose - a job he tackled last year that required construction of 400 individual boards with slightly-tapered edges.

John’s wife, Lisa, and children, Trinity, 20, and John, 16, were recruited to help with the project. “We spent two-to-three days, all of us, sanding and making boards and priming,” said John. John’s other work includes painting and installing the bell on the brick tower in the center of the Village. He also poured the concrete foundation.

He built shutters on the outside of the school.

John refurbished the voting booth which was in disrepair when the society first acquired it. He created and installed the updated chinking, or material that fills spaces between logs, on the log cabin. It is made of lime, sand and concrete. “It was specific to what they would have used back then. (The society) wanted to stay true to that era,” said John.

The museum is next in line for an upgrade, he said. “The siding on the museum is at the end of its life. On the south side of the building especially boards are curled. Every one of those boards that is curled is allowing water behind it,” he said.

John has lived in Hilliard for about 20 years. He grew up in Grandview Heights but worked some
refurbishing jobs in Hilliard after high school and liked the city. “My family was here and I wanted to raise my family here. There are good schools and it is a safe area,” he said.

Hilliard is good for business, too, said John. He doesn’t need to advertise his services. “It is all word-of-mouth. Old Hilliard especially is very tight-knit. They try to keep things local which is great,” he said.

John didn’t plan to work in construction. His original dream was to be a chef. “In school I actually took culinary arts. But I took a lot of shop, too,” he said.

He took a job with his uncle’s roofing company after high school and was ready to branch out a few years later when he went to work for a home improvement company.

“That is where I learned kitchens, bathrooms, and basements,” he said.

He’s owned his own business for the past seven years.

It’s not a surprise he ended up in his profession. “I like to take stuff apart and see how it works and put it back together. When I was young, even 10-years old, the family would drop stuff (such as bicycles) off for me to put together,” he said.

Ninety percent of John’s business is in home renovations. The rest of his work is for commercial enterprises.

John has an employee who helps on big jobs but overall he handles the work himself. It is far from boring, he said, adding, “Every job is different. Everything changes from house to house and person to person. I love meeting new people.”

For more information, email John at jrvrenovations@yahoo.com

Contributed by Rosemary Kubera

Hilliard Station Baking Company is almost as rich in history as it is in cupcakes.

Located at 4035 Main St. and owned by husband and wife team David and Tracy Baldridge, the shop is nearly across from where the Historical Village’s 1899 train station used to be and a stone’s throw from today’s Hilliard Station Park.

“We have the best view in Hilliard out of this100-year-old building. People sit and can look up Main Street and they can look across at the park,” said David.

Cupcakes of multiple and scrumptious varieties are on sale, along with cinnamon rolls, coffee and such.

“I always wanted to have my own business and felt that Hilliard needed a small bakery downtown, and I thought that cupcakes would be popular,” said Tracy. “I always liked going into a donut shop were I could get one of each donut and I thought it would be fun to have a bakery where someone could come in and get 12 kinds of cake.”

Tracy does all the baking.

“I just support her in that. I always liked the idea of owning my own business,” said David.

The couple renovated the early 20th century building where they are located in April 2020 and opened for business in March 2021

“We bought and renovated it right in the middle of the pandemic. Right when we opened the vaccine came out and people clearly were more comfortable coming out,” said Tracy

“From the minute we opened the door we have been busy. We did a soft launch with no advertising and opened the door and have been busy and sold out almost every day. The downtown location has really helped us,” said David.

They chose to open their business in Hilliard because it is their home. “We love the area and the rich history that it has,” said Tracy.

“We love the community, the atmosphere, the people, the opportunities,” said David.

Because their building is so near to the site of the old train station, the couple incorporated the railroad theme into their shop. A rendering of the 1899 train station is on the shop’s front window and pictures of it are on the walls. Tracy wears a shirt with the word Conductor on the back. A 1934 Western Electric railroad station telephone is on the wall.

“We tried to design the building with the railroad theme in mind. We both love history and study history and Old Hilliard, and the history of this building, and we are happy to support history any way we can,” said David.

“We tried to maintain as much of old building as we could,” said David. Over the years the place has been home to a florist, furniture seller, restaurant and pool hall, and a coffee shop. It was empty right before the Baldridges took over.

They’ve learned the building once was owed by a person named Winterringer – the same name of a nearby street.

They were excited to find items left behind by previous tenants: a sign from the circa 1918-1921 furniture store and an antique Cola Cola bottle in the basement, and an old bottle of stove polish and a man’s cap in a bucket in the attic.

“We were able to save the original floor and (wood) that came out of the wall,” said David. The wood was used to build the the shop’s counter cupboard.

“We are thankful we have a piece of the history. The basement is original. We think of all the business owners that have walked down those steps in the past hundred years,” said Tracy.

For more information, visit hilliardstationbaking.com.

A shop that offers some of the smoothest, creamiest, frozen treats in all of Hilliard is a stone’s throw away from the society’s caboose.

Whit’s Frozen Custard, 4138 Main St., has been a good neighbor by providing coupons for give-away at society events and also by posting event fliers at the store.

Whit’s large, made-fresh daily menu ranges from simple one-dip cones to banana splits, shakes,
sundaes, and take-home party cakes.

The store’s slogan says it all: Simple. Fresh. Happy.

Though customers can create their own frozen treats, Whit’s offers specialties including the Whitser of the Month (Death By Chocolate for August) and features a Flavor of the Week (Butter Pecan Chip for the final week of August), said owner Judy Vitale.

There are several Whit’s franchise locations in the central Ohio area as well as throughout the state and nation. The original store is in Granville, Ohio, and was founded in 2003 by the Whitman Family.

Judy will mark 10 years owning the Hilliard franchise next May.

“I chose Hilliard. I just thought it was a great location. I drove through Hilliard and thought the area had so much potential,” she said.

“We started out on the west side of Hilliard but I really wanted to be Downtown, and when this building became available we revitalized it. Now it is a great center for the community to gather and engage. We are more in the heart of the community now,” she said.

With its friendly front patio, Whit’s has become a community gathering place.

“It is good to provide a place for the community when they all come out and gather. They say Hi to each other, they meet their neighbors. It is a very friendly community,” said Judy.

Judy grew up in suburban Cleveland and became familiar with the central Ohio area when her daughter enrolled in Denison University in Granville, Ohio. It was there that Judy came upon Whit’s for the first time.

A single mother in need of a flexible schedule, Judy decided to open her own franchise.

“I love Whit’s to begin with. I love the product. I believe in the product. It is a great product to share with the community and to bring to Hilliard. And I have been welcomed with open arms. I am very grateful,” she said.

Over the years Judy has focused on nurturing the work ethic of her employees – most of whom are high school students.

“Hilliard has great schools and a lot of wonderful young people. They come here and learn responsibility - what it is like to work and make money. They learn team work. If they show ownership potential I teach them more and they take on greater roles. They have the opportunity to make good money and become managers,” she said.

“My reward is seeing 15-16 year-old people evolve into responsible adults. I have a lot of alumnae staff who have been with me. They become managers, they work hard and go off to college. They come back and run the business,” said Judy.

Judy herself comes into the store, does the inventory and “keeps an eye on things.”

“I’m always working but my goal is to teach the young people how to manage and run the business,” she said.

Whit’s has a strong belief in supporting the community. The Hilliard store supports nonprofits such as the Hilliard Food Pantry. It supports the schools with Spirit Nights where a percentage of sales goes to PTOs and such.

For more information visit whitscustard.com

Contributed by Rosemary Kubera

Joshua Jernigan has worked at Jet’s Pizza, located just south of Downtown at 3858 Main St., since the Michigan-based franchise opened what would become its first Ohio store here in 2008. Joshua, 32, started when he was 14. “I was the first employee hired at the first Ohio location - one of youngest managers and went on to be GM and eventually made my way up to being an owner,” he said. Joshua is also part-owner of a Jet’s in Heath, Ohio. All told, Jet’s has some 25 locations around the state.

Joshua doesn’t know why Hilliard was selected as Jet’s first Ohio location but said the decision was wise. “There are a lot of special events and we are smack dab in the middle of all the schools as well. A lot of traffic comes through.”

The Hilliard Jet’s shop often provides food at discount or no cost for the Historical Society as well as for the schools. “Jet’s Pizza has faithfully supported the Historical Society for over eight years. They have generously provided pizzas for our volunteers for Village work sessions and event setups whenever asked,” said society President Bob Eggerichs.

Joshua said, “We help out quite a bit in the community to show people we are here. The main thing we do with the schools is Spirit Night. A certain amount of sales goes back to the school and it helps out with the PTA and other groups.”

Jet’s also sponsors some school sports teams and provides food for special teacher and classroom events.

Joshua grew up in the Hilliard area and lives now in Columbus. He and his wife, Kara, have three children, Austin, 11, Aiden, 5, and Abriella, 3.

He chose to make his career in the food industry because it is growing and, as he puts it, “Everybody needs food.”

Jet’s specializes in pizza, wings, and salads. It offers a special each Tuesday of a small, one-topping pizza for $6.99, and a Monday special of a large, one-topping pizza for $12.99.

For more information visit jetspizza.com. Phone 614-771-0500.

Contributed by Rosemary Kubera

Staples has been in business since 1986 with stores around the U.S. and Canada. The Hilliard store at 3939 Trueman Blvd. has been in operation since 2006. “Staples is a growing company that fares well against its competitors in the business supplies industry,” said Chuck McNeal, general manager. “The Hilliard location was selected because the city is constantly growing. It is a good market.”

Chuck has worked in retail management at various stores for some 45 years. Friends in-the-know advised him to apply at Staples where he’s worked for several years. “It offers competitive pay, excellent benefits, and it is a nice place to work. They make you feel very comfortable,” said Chuck.

Supporting local communities is one of the company’s core objectives. Staples offers
rewards programs to local businesses and occasionally give discounts or free service and/or supplies to nonprofits. “I donate as much as I possibly can without pushing the limit,” said Chuck. “Staples always donates to the Hilliard and Southwestern school districts – supplying kits containing pens, pencils, glue and the like.”

“Staples has been very supportive of the historical society for all our printing and supply needs,” said Bob Eggerichs, society president. “When we have a tight time frame for a print project, they always accommodate. The staff members have been helpful at suggesting alternatives to save us money.”

Chuck is especially glad he can contribute to the society because he has lived in Hilliard for almost 30 years. He can remember even as a teen this being a little farm town, with nothing here. He enjoyed watching it grow and grow so much.”

Chuck even enjoys the changes to Reynolds Park which is near his home and states. “It
has changed a lot for the good. And my family loves the way Downtown is set up.”

The Historical Society always appreciates Chuck, his staff and the generosity of Staples.

For information about the local Staples store, visit stores.staples.com/oh/hilliard/

Signs at the Hilliard Historical Society come from FastSigns Hilliard.

Mike Smith, with his son-in-law and daughter Jeff and Kelly Pevec, opened a franchise for FastSigns Hilliard four years ago.

“I think my Dad just doesn’t know how to retire. This is his retirement job,” said Kelly. Along with his work at FastSigns, Mike continues to consult on business sales. He had worked in sales at various companies and was a professor at The Ohio State University, in the Fisher School of Business’ Executive program.

Consulting wasn’t “scratching the itch of working enough and he was (saying) we should buy a franchise,” said Kelly.

Along with Jeff, who worked in data and analytics, Mike looked at different small businesses to enter. Based on both his and Jeff’s backgrounds, entering the FastSigns franchise was “a good match,” said Kelly. “It felt like a logical thing.”

After all, businesses need signs. “And the idea of creating something from nothing was very interesting to the both of them,” said Kelly.

The enterprise benefited from the onslaught of the covid pandemic. Signs with messages ranging from mask mandates to curbside pickup were needed. “It became a really hectic time here because we were considered an essential business trying to keep other businesses open,” said Kelly.

Mike chose the Hilliard location because it is close to his home in Dublin. “The way a franchise works, you buy a territory and the one closest to home was the Hilliard area. So it fit perfectly,” said Kelly.

Company spokeswoman is just one of Kelly’s unofficial titles at FastSigns. She joked that “awesome daughter and wife” is her actual title. Other unofficial duties include office manager, accounting, human resources, and sales.

Kelly stepped away from teaching to help run the sign company. Previously she taught kindergarten at a Columbus charter school.

“There was a need at the shop and I needed a break from teaching,” said Kelly who plans to eventually get her Master’s Degree and return to the classroom.

FastSigns supports the Historical Society because aiding the community is a company value.

“Our family has been taught to be a part of something bigger than yourself through volunteerism,” said Kelly. FastSigns wanted to give back to the community and be part of life in Hilliard.

The Historical Society needed more and better signs.

“A few years ago we started a campaign to increase and improve the signage that we used for events. The owner of FastSigns was very generous in helping us with our project. Knowing that we are a nonprofit organization on a limited budget, they have continued their steadfast support of the Historical Society,” said Bob Eggerichs, society president.

It has been a good collaboration. “The first time I delivered signs to Bob, he walked me around the Village and that was very cool and very educational. I didn’t know all the artifacts and things were so close to us,” said Kelly.

Kelly said, “As the relationship matured learning about history helped us want to continue to be part of the historical society.”

FastSigns is located at 4469 Cemetery Road. For information visit
fastsigns.com/hilliard-oh/

Rich Products Corp. has donated donuts to the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society for various festivities over the past ten years. Those donuts come from Rich’s Hilliard plant at 4600 Northwest Parkway, said Michelle Hurtt, senior master production scheduler and Hilliard resident. It is Hurtt’s job to facilitate the company’s charitable donations to local organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, the Franklin County Fair, and several elementary schools. Rich’s supports local groups as part of its philosophy which seeks community improvement. The company has a list of corporate values including treating customers as family. “Associate and product safety is number one,” said Hurtt.

Along with donuts, the Hilliard plant’s 310 employees produce icings, fillings, and glazes, said Hurtt. Hilliard was selected for Rich’s Ohio plant due to its central location for distribution purposes. ...Headquartered in Buffalo, NY, Rich’s has been in business since 1941. A private corporation owned by the Rich family, it has plants that make a vast variety of food items in 11 states and Canada. It has customers worldwide and some 9,000 employees. The late Bob Rich Sr. began the company when he developed nondairy creamer for point-of-sale businesses. “He was a very smart and innovative man,” said Hurtt.

Rich’s plants prepare the food and ship it to warehouses where customers purchase it for sale in their own businesses. “(Customers) purchase our products and sell it as theirs,” said Hurtt. Doing so cuts costs as it is expensive to have in-store skilled bakers, she said.

Products range from Take-and-Bake Pizza that you can find on sale at Walmart, to French toast and cheese sticks at Burger King, to donuts and SeaPaks at Kroger’s. Rich’s also produces cakes, cookies, frozen dough, meatballs, and appetizers, to name a few items. It also partners with hotels to provide food service, said Hurtt.

Hurtt began her career with Rich’s in 1988 after graduating from The Ohio State University. “I’ve stayed because it is a family-oriented company. They take care of their people,” she said.

For more information visit www.richs.com

American Family Insurance, James D. Ford Agency Inc. is Ohio’s 14th largest insurance agency. They are a business member of the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society and a sponsor of our very popular horse-drawn wagon rides for children and adults during our annual Santa in the Train Depot event.

The agency offers auto, home, business, health, and life insurance along with other insurance products.

James Ford founded the agency in 1996 and soon undertook philanthropic projects. “I invest in supporting through advertising,” he said. “I try to support those things that are unique and dear to my heart. The Society is one of them.”

The James D. Ford agency is located at 4130 Main Street. It is a stone’s throw away from the Historical Village and close enough to take walks there. He likes the feel of the village’s history, the way its maintained and the way it’s open for the public to experience.

Along with support for the Historical Society, James backs a plethora of other projects and events such as the Franklin County Fair and Main Street festivities. One of his most prominent projects are the Athletes of the Month awards at all three Hilliard high schools. James commented he’s been doing that for the past 25 years, highlighting the male and female athletes of the month from the various sports programs.

A native of Missouri, James decided to open his business in Hilliard because it offered both rural and commercial properties. “I liked the look of Hilliard, I liked the feel. I like that it had a Main Street and I liked the school district. I thought it would be a great opportunity in a growing community,” he said.

James chose this type of business because he wanted to be in a business that could help serve people in a way that provides opportunities. He said, “I am able to put people who had an unfortunate situation back whole again whether it be losing an auto or home or even when someone passes, being able to help the family financially through insurance products. I like that.”

For each of the past 25 years he has earned the American Family Insurance Co.’s most prestigious award for excellence in sales called The All-American.

James and his wife Glenda have two children, Hannah and Andrew, both graduates of Hilliard Davidson High School, and two grandchildren.

When asked what he likes best about Hilliard, he responded, “It is that it is a healthy and growing community with a lot of diversity – from young families to retirees, plus a growing business base.”

The city’s rapid growth, however, is one of the things that worry him. “We have the city sprawl eating up farm ground. I am saddened over that but I understand progress,” he said.

We are happy to showcase an outstanding business member and sponsor, James D. Ford, for American Family Insurance, James D. Ford Agency Inc. this month.

For information about James Ford Agency, visit www.jamesfordagency.com

Grandad’s Pizza has been and continues to be a generous supporter of Hilliard Historical Society events. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Hilliard’s Grandad’s Pizza owner and operator Dustin Hackney. Grandad’s has been in business in Hilliard for eight years. There are four Grandad’s in the Columbus area – all owned by members of the Hackney family.

As various family members moved to the Hilliard area for the schools, the housing, the parks, and lots of things to do, they felt it was a natural location to open a family-friendly restaurant. The family got into the pizza business after working in the industry for Donato’s. Then they decided to “live the American dream” of running their own business. They view supporting organizations like the Hilliard Historical Society as symbiotic relationships. They are proud that their popularity has grown by word of mouth. They are located at 4093 Truman Blvd, very near Home Depot. For dine in or carry out call 614-767-3020.

Grandad’s – The Best Pizzerias in Ohio – Our family, proudly serving yours since 1997!

https://www.grandadspizza.com

The Coffee Connections has two locations in downtown Old Hilliard, 4004 Main St and 5354 Center St in the Center Street Market. They opened their first shop in 2016. Their business is a great example of passions turning into careers.
They had a strong passion for coffee and for people and combining the two was the
obvious next step. They not only focus on always delivering a quality cup of coffee, but also on building relationships with every one of their customers. “No matter where God opens the door for us to have coffee shops, we plan to keep our vision to provide quality coffee and develop meaningful relationships at each one of our locations.” Coffee Connections donates 100% of their tips each month to different organizations, because “around here, it really is all about the people.” They love empowering others to make a difference. They do this out of a heart of giving, based on their strong and vibrant faith. The Hilliard Ohio Historical Society is one of their recipients. Thank you to Coffee Connections for your generous support of the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society.