The R.P Home & Harvest on Cable Road will take on the name Runnings, after its owner completes the purchase of the stores in June.
Photo courtesy of Runnings
LIMA — A Cable Road store catering to homeowners, farmers and outdoors enthusiasts will soon have its fourth name in seven years.
Minnesota-based retailers Runnings will purchase R.P. Home & Harvest, including its 22 locations and one distribution facility across Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, according to a press release from the companies. The two Ohio locations are 975 N. Cable Road, Lima, and at the Findlay Mall on Tiffin Avenue, Findlay.
The agreement brings Runnings’ footprint to 80 locations in 12 states, from New York to Montana. The transaction should close in June. R.P. Home & Harvest stores will continue with that name for a limited period of time as Runnings transitions the store to its brand. Its motto is “Your Home, Farm and Outdoor Store.”
Runnings sells pet supplies, sporting goods including hunting and fishing equipment, clothing and footwear, lawn and garden supplies, housewares, tools, farm supplies, toys and outdoor equipment, according to the company.
“From the customers and the communities to the employees and vendors, we truly feel this is an excellent opportunity for everyone involved,” said Brian Odegaard, president of Runnings, in a press release. “These stores and communities are very similar to the markets we presently serve and, after many discussions with R.P. Home & Harvest’s leadership, both companies knew this would be a great fit from a culture, values and operations standpoint.”
The Lima location opened in 2006 as Big R in a former Wal-Mart location at Clocktower Plaza. It rebranded as Stock + Field in 2019 before that Minnesota-based ownership group decided to close all of its stores in January 2021.
In stepped R.P. Lumber Co., which acquired those stores after bankruptcy proceedings. It rehired employees at the locations.
“There is a long list of employees, vendors and other hardworking people who brought these stores out of the ashes of a bad situation, literally going from empty stores to serving customers in a matter of weeks during a very tough economic time,” said Jason Plummer, president of R.P Home & Harvest. “I know the communities and customers appreciated this unbelievable effort, and this transaction with Runnings is only going to add the next great chapter to this story.”
Odegaard said he toured “many” R.P. Home & Harvest stores and was “thoroughly impressed, especially with some of the team members I encountered.”
Runnings opened its first store in Marshall, Minn., on Dec. 5, 1947, as an automotive supply store that sold farm and fleet supplies. It started growing in the late 1980s, when Dennis and Adele Reed purchased the company. It continued its growth over the years, including by acquiring Campbell’s Supply Company and its seven retail stores in January 2020.
The purchase of R.P. Home & Harvest was a bit unexpected for everyone, Plummer said. He said knowing both companies were family-owned sped along the transaction.
“Just a couple of months ago this wasn’t even on the radar, but when a win-win opportunity appears, it is an exciting thing,” Plummer said. “Runnings has been doing this for over 75 years, and they are one of the top farm, home and outdoor-store companies in America, extremely well-regarded by customers and competitors.”
Reach David Trinko at 567-242-0467 or on Twitter @Lima_Trinko.
