Bud Schemper received a send-off to remember on Thursday.
After 48 years of working in the family business, he officially retired at Schemper’s Ace Hardware in Ripon.
“What I’ll miss most is the people – our customers – and staff,” Schemper said on his last day of work.
He started in the family business in the summer of his sophomore year at Ripon High. Prior to that, Schemper worked in the bike shop as an eighth grader.
Those who were there on his farewell day shared in his retirement celebration with cake, snacks and other goodies.
“This can’t be your last day – you’re too young to retire,” said one of his longtime customers.
Schemper, however, indicated that his initial plan was to step down at the end of 2021 after the family business switched ownerships to the Swanson family of Escalon.
He agreed to stay on upon the Swansons opening the new Strand Ace Hardware in Manteca. The former Orchard Supply Hardware, which stood vacant for a few years, took six months of work and training to finally get business up and operating.
The grand opening was held in early March.
Chris Swanson, who is second generation of the family hardware business, had acquired the Ripon business months earlier.
Back in October, Schemper’s Ace Hardware announced via social media the change of ownership to the Swansons of Escalon.
Outside of a possible name-change, not much will change per day-to-day operation, Bud Schemper noted.
According to the Schemper’s Ace Hardware Facebook page: “Our relationship with the Swanson family dates back to the 1970s. They are local, community-minded and have similar values. We are confident in their ability to continue serving the community well into the future.”
In 1975, the Swansons took over Strand Ace Hardware in Escalon, and now has expanded their operations to four locations – Modesto is the other one.
Meanwhile, Schemper’s Ace Hardware, 150 N. Wilma Ave., has been at its current 20,000-square-foot building with 14,000 of that being dedicated to retail space since 2005.
This is the fourth location of the Ripon business that kicked off in 1954 by Bud’s uncle John Schemper and grandfather John Schemper.
As for Bud Schemper, he’s looking forward to his spending his retirement years fishing, golfing and traveling on vacations.
