Fremont's 'Fanatic' finds home in Clyde

By BECKY BROOKS

Enterprise Editor

clydenews@bizwoh.rr.com

A Fremont Potter Village business will be relocating to downtown Clyde by summer.

Ken and Roxanne Dick, owners and operators of 1st Place Awards, have purchased The Fanatic from Tracy Colston.

Ken Dick called it a "perfect fit".

Dick, a Clyde City Councilman, added that the expansion of the local business at 126 S. Main St. shows he has confidence in the future of downtown.

"It's going to keep growing..." he said, adding "It's a feeder type of thing."

The councilman said the downtown has already started to see businesses since last fall and said the many small storefronts offer a perfect place for a new business to start.

But for 1st Place Awards, the addition of The Fanatic to its expanded shop will mean more retail business and new store hours, Dick pointed out.

"It carries major league baseball, NFL, NBA and major college," he said about clothing lines. Dick added that the Fremont store previously carried NASCAR clothing lines and now those lines will be returning with the shop's move to Clyde.

"We're shooting for July 4th," Dick said about having The Fanatic at 1st Place Awards ready.

The local trophy and gift business purchased the adjoining building (formerly Dr. Paul Reed's office) last year. Dick said he will be moving his engraving shop and trophy work area into for former doctor's office while The Fanatic will be filling the area now occupied by the awards display area.

"Items will be for sale in mid-May," he added, but noted the store will be under construction until early summer.

So besides offering trophies and engraved gifts, the new store will offer jackets, jerseys and a variety of sports related gifts, he said.

The new shop will offer major brands and Ohio State items, the businessman pointed out. The OSU fan added, "We'll have Michigan items, just because we have too."

With the expansion, Dick said later in the year the shop will add one or two more employees based on sales.

"I look for it to do well," he said.