The Mail-Journal, Volume 29, Number 7, Milford, Kosciusko County, 28 March 1990 — Page 67
Video Connection offers wide selection
A selection of more than 3,000 movies is offered to customers at Video Connection, and the stock of videos just keeps on growing. Movie buffs can get their “fix” any time of the year at Video Connection, as the store is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 365 days a year. “From our study of the video business, the holidays are the best days of the year for business,” said co-owner Dan Van Lue. “It’s totally amazing what will happen on Christmas and Thanksgiving.” Van Lue is joined in the ownership duties by Dennis Kirkpatrick, who also owns a Video Connection in LaGrange. Van Lue’s wife, Barb, is the store’s manager. Video Connection usually keeps four to six copies of new, "hot” movies and most titles
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WIDE VIDEO SELECTION — Barb and Dan Van Lue stand in front of a selection of videos at their Video Connection store in Syracuse. The store, located across the street from McDonald’s on SR 13, is open 365 days a year.
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are included in an economicallhree for $1.50 deal. The store also carries more than 100 Nintendos. The store first opened for business back in September of 1989. For two years, Dan had studied the market potential for a business such as Video Connection, and he liked what he saw. “We studied financing, we studied the potential of the area and the ability to support it,” he said. The business was started on the concept of convenience to the customers. Despite the large number of videos, the Van Lues have been able to create an orderly layout of the store, with movies neatly arranged under such categories as “Action”, “Comedy”, “Drama” and “Horror.”
PROGRESS EDITION — Wed., March 28,1990
They also provide a monthly newsletter to their customers, at no cost. The newsletter has free coupons and information on the latest releases. Dan says this journalistic venture has increased customer loyalty. “That’s proved to be very valuable to us and we’re still signing up new people every week,” he said. In addition to the videos, Video Connection also offers a full line of electronic equipment, such as televisions, VCRs, stereos and camcorders. The service department, operated by Electro-Net, will service all makes of electronic equipment, from the
The Local Craftsman: An established name in custom cabinetry in the area
The Local Craftsman, owned and operated by Courtney Blue of Syracuse, has established a reputation of high quality woodworking and great customer service at the custom cabinet and furniture shop located in Syracuse. The Local Craftsman, located on South Main Street behind Dana, has specialized in custom-made kitchen cabinetry as well as top-quality cabinet refacing for the past seven years. “Our refacing is unique because we use a quarter-inch of solid oak facing to cover all exposed cabinet fronts, instead of veneer, ’ ’ commented Blue. As an affordable alternative to new kitchen and bath cabinetry, The Local Craftsman has developed its own method of cabinet resurfacing. Though other companies offer a similar service, Blue says the advantages of the Local Craftsman are: (1) One day installation. (2) All parts are prefinished - no stain, finishing mess or fumes in the home. (3) Solid hardwood facings, not veneers, are used to cover all exposed cabinet fronts. The shop is currently in the process of adding a showroom and new office addition that will open early this summer and feature custom cabinets and furniture that the shop is known for. “We feel that we offer
latest hi-tec stereo sound systems, color televisions to VCRs. You name it and they can repair it. With over 40 years combined in the service business, Dan Van Lue and Dean Carr are factory trained, authorized warranty technicians on most name brands. “We’ve kind of made it a point to specialize in big screen (television) and we only carry the best,” Dan said. Dan’s future plans for Video Connection include an expansion of the building in the spring. He’s also kicking around the idea of opening another store in the area.
the best quality cabinetry at very competitive prices and the new showroom addition will help us to display our work,” said Blue. The Local Craftsman offers complete service with its products including design as well as installation of their custom-made cabinets. The shop covers a broad market throughout the area including all of Kosciusko County as well farther north into the South Bend and LaPorte area. “We do work within about a 100 mile radius and we’re looking to branch out even more in the future,” remarked Blue. Blue said that the Local Craftsman deals primarily in hardwood cabinetry although the shop does offer other types of cabinets to its customers. “We want to be involved with more custom furniture and cabinetry and that’s part of the reason for adding a showroom,” said Blue. The Local Craftsman is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and customers can also make appointments to visit with Blue about their cabinet needs at other times. Blue added that he anticipates that the shop’s new showroom will also be open on Friday and Saturday once the addition is complete, sometime in early summer.
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