Business is Booming in Middletown!
Last month we celebrated the new businesses coming to Middletown. This month we are celebrating a different business achievement – reaching a milestone anniversary.
Harold and Judy Routzahn are celebrating their 40th anniversary of running the retail store, Middletown Sportsland. Sportsland has become synonymous in Frederick County with team sports because for years, everyone has been coming here to get their gear, get uniforms, jerseys, shoes, and more to play team sports, or even show their high school team spirit!
We chatted a bit more with Harold on reaching this anniversary. He shared that in 1984, his children were 2, 7, and 12 and that Judy would run the store during the weekdays, and he would run the store during the weekends and evenings. He worked two jobs before he could work full-time at Sportsland. Getting retail up and running is not for the faint of heart!
In 1995 and 1996 Sportsland took over the entire building at 108 West Main Street. Up until that time, the space we know today was split into two spaces – Sportsland in the front room and an apartment in the back that the former store owners lived in – the Gates.
Harold attributes his successes to providing quality goods, and excellent customer service. He also said paying careful attention to the finances is vital for any small retail business owner. While we were there, we witnessed this firsthand. A mother and her daughter came in looking for softball shoes and exclaimed out loud how impressed they were with the many choices available. Harold excused himself from our conversation and went to help his customer, explaining the finer details of how baseball shoes should fit younger children and be supportive in the ankles. Frederick County folks know that Harold is an expert and they come to shop here to get that knowledge that only a small business owner can share and have the time to give each customer. It is what brings people back, year after year.
While shopping trends have changed, Harold stated that when folks try to shop online or at a larger store, they often get frustrated and don’t know what to buy. So, they come to him because they can see the quality of the product, have their children try several pairs of shoes on, and pick up other needed gear, as well as talk with him or his knowledgeable staff. After all, they have been dressing and ordering gear for athletes for 40 years and know a thing or two!
Harold said that he enjoys retail, but loves baseball. So he put these two passions together and created Middletown Sportsland. Our community is so happy that he did!
Thank you to the Middletown Sportsland for taking care of our community and local athletes! And congratulations Harold and Judy on building a landmark business!