Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
Mike and Melodee Scofield didn’t set out to own a hardware store in Scio. In fact, Mike spent 25 years as a police officer in Northern California before he and Melodee decided to relocate to be nearer to her parents.
“I was kicking around the house a lot,” Mike said of the days directly following the move. “And so, I got a job at Home Depot 20 miles away.”
But the commute was a drag so, when the owner of the local Scio Hardware and Mercantile asked if he would like a job – despite initially turning him down – Mike accepted the part-time job.
“Then he said, you should buy this place,” Mike remembered. “And I said, ‘no.’”
But the owner persisted and eventually Mike and Melodee decided to take a chance, purchasing the 104-year-old store in August 2017.
“At the time we thought, this seems like fun – not realizing it’s a lifestyle,” Mike laughed. “And law enforcement doesn’t really prepare you for owning a hardware store. It was a little bit eye opening.”
But despite their lack of experience, the couple has taken to the profession, filling the shelves with items curated to fit the community’s needs.
“And we try to support local companies,” Melodee said, including fresh cut flowers from a local farmer, soaps and candles from a nearby craftsperson and even sourdough bread and fresh baked scones fresh-made by her daughter.
“We don’t mark them up as much as we do a big manufacturer,” she added. “Because I don’t want to pay $20 for a dish towel, so I don’t charge that.”
It’s a fine balance, offering competitive prices, while still making a living in a small place. Mike and Melodee manage it by offering a combination of unique merchandise and customer service found nowhere else.
“You can drive 20 miles, or you can order from Amazon – and people do,” Melodee said. “But you get personal service here.”
It’s what keeps a steady stream of customers coming through the door for plumbing supplies, a gallon of specially mixed paint, a birthday gift or even an ice cream cone from the store’s newest and most popular addition.
“We had a fantastic café that had to close last January, and we got dibs on their [ice cream] machine,” Melodee said. “We’ve sold so much ice cream!”
But the personal touch they’ve been proudest of, is their support of various community organizations and activities.
“Veteran organizations, the Scio Youth Club, the FFA, alumni…” Melodee said, listing just a few of the entities she and Mike have contributed an estimated $36,000 in cash and $60,000 in merchandise to during the past seven years.
“In addition to those dollars and merchandise, we’ve also been able to give to those with specific needs in the area of suicide prevention,” Melodee wrote in a post on the store’s Facebook page, referencing the nearly at-cost sale of an estimated 11,000 medicine lock boxes in Oregon.
“Suicide prevention has been near and dear to us,” Melodee said. “So, we mark them down enough that the purchasers have saved $121,000.” And countless lives.
But for Mike and Melodee, doing what they can for their customers and their community just makes sense.
“Small businesses give back,” Melodee said simply.
It’s why she and Mike donates to so many causes, work so hard to stock items they think the community needs, and go above and beyond to help – even performing two marriage ceremonies for regular customers during the past year.
“They’re customers we’ve known for quite some time,” Mike – the ordained officiant providing the services – said, describing the first wedding, which took place spontaneously in the store with two customers acting as witnesses. “And the truth is, it was convenient for them.”
And convenience is a big part of the Scio Hardware and Mercantile’s charm.
“Because it’s a time saver we have farmers, ranchers and contractors coming in,” Mike said. “Because time is money for those guys.”
And if the store doesn’t stock it, they can almost always get it in.
“We order things for people all the time,” Melodee confirmed. All they need to do is ask.
“And just because we’re small and independent doesn’t mean we’re going to be more expensive…” she added. Sometimes the opposite is often true.
And shopping at Scio Hardware and Mercantile keeps local dollars local, helping the community in “tangible ways.”
“We can’t even begin to express how much we appreciate you…” Melodee wrote in a post on the store’s Facebook page. “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!”
