Schrader's Auto to Make Hoffman Name Change Official
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Jordan Fouts-
Everything will stay the same when Schrader’s Auto Parts changes its name to Hoffman Bros in a couple weeks, says longtime manager John Calhoun. Schrader’s, which started in Warsaw in 1947 near the county courthouse, is finally changing its name and signage to reflect its purchase by Hoffman Bros in 1990. The new signs should be up by late April or early May. Calhoun said most customers already know about the new name, but he still wants to avoid any confusion. “I don’t want people to say Schrader’s was sold, we’re the same old people,” he said. “Most people know Hoffman Bros owns us, but I don’t want someone looking for Schrader’s to miss it. We’re right here, we’re the same people.” The auto parts store moved locations several times over the years before finally settling at 314 E. Market St. in 1976. Originally built as a school in the early 1900s, the building at the corner of Market and Detroit streets housed a library, auto assembly company, Zimmer’s splint division and a tool shop before Schrader’s moved in, according to Calhoun, who joined the store the same year it moved in. “We’d like to build a new store, but I guess we’re invested in the history,” he said, adding that he has customers now who say they remember coming in with their dads when they were young. He also observed they have customers in some towns who are still loyal even after 50 years. The business was founded as a variety store by H.J. Schrader, who sold auto parts, hardware and go-karts. It was later owned by Rene Nine, a salesman, until it was bought by the Walsh family, who own Hoffman Bros. Schrader’s also had stores in North Manchester and Columnia City at one time, but they were sold when Hoffman Bros bought the business. Begun in 1929, Hoffman is a South Bend-based business that owns close to a dozen stores in northern Indiana, including Elkhart, Goshen, Mishawaka and LaPorte. It employs more than 100 people across the region, Calhoun said. Schrader’s has a wide range of parts available, Calhoun noted, much of it stored in the building extension, built in 1985. “If your car needs to get from point A to point B, we sell all the parts to get your car on the road,” he said. It also supplies dealers and garages throughout northern Indiana, making 125 deliveries a day. “If you get a part put on your car, it’s probably coming from us,” he said.
