Interview And Photo By: Randy Lewis
Patti's Cards & Gifts in the Middletown Shopping Center will host a fall event this Saturday, October 17th. The doors open early at 9:00 am and refreshments will be served. There will be a free gift with purchase awarded to the first 25 customers! Patti's offers a great selection of Cards, Candles, Puzzles, OSU Merchandise, Stephanie Dawn Quilted Handbags, NEW Silver Forest Earrings, and Much More. "Come in and be treated to some good old-fashioned hospitality...because nice matters!"
Here is the interview that Jennie and Bruce, owners of Patti's Cards and Gifts gave MiddletownUSA.com back in early September 2009
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our business passion with your readers!
When did you open Patti’s Cards and Gifts?
We originally opened Patti's Cards & Gifts as Patti's Hallmark in the Towne Mall in June of 1987.
When did you leave your Town Mall location, and how has the new location been?
In August of 2007 we reopened in the Middletown Shopping Center as Patti's Cards & Gifts. We had planned to close due to the conditions of the Towne Mall, but an outpouring of support from our life-long customers prompted us to seek out another location.
The new location was like starting the business from scratch in many ways. The biggest challenge has been helping our customers find us. We still hear many people say that they didn't realize we relocated to the shopping center.
What type of items do you sell, and what is the most popular?
Wow! I could spend plenty of time on this question! We love to carry quality items that are of high value to our customers. We honor customer requests whenever possible. We feel our customer service is what truly differentiates us from other businesses. You will always find a smiling owner ready to assist you with whatever you have in mind at Patti's! We carry a full line of greeting cards that are hand-selected from many different companies.
We also offer a great variety of gifts, home decor and accessories including bead lines from an ever-changing mix of manufacturers. Some of the more popular items of the moment are candles (we carry many of the best lines), quilted handbags that are made right here in Ohio (check the labels on the brands you carry, ladies, to see where they're actually made!), Willow Tree angels and figurines, a great selection of OSU merchandise, and Springbok puzzles just to name a few.
We are always searching for a variety of quality gifts made in the USA. We pride ourselves on providing just the right card and gift in a dressed gift bag that's ready to go!
How did you come up with the name Patti’s?
Well, our names are Bruce and Jennie.... The name Patti came from Bruce's sister. At the time we had 2 other Hallmark stores called Jenny's and Heidi's. I am Jennie, but have been cheerfully answering to Patti for well over 20 years!
What have you enjoyed about owning a business in Middletown?
That's easy! The BEST part of Middletown is the people! Our customers have been our extended family for over 22 years. We have seen them marry, raise children, and have grandchildren. We have laughed with them, cried with them, and prayed with them. With all the negative publicity Middletown seems to get, the thing that everyone fails to mention is the heart and soul of the best people in the world.
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