WCEC Storming Back Stories: Business at Jaspan Hardware Thrives, Due to Tourists and Local Support

For 30 years, Jaspan Hardware has made Manasquan its home.  Manasquan, known for its pristine beaches and family activities, has a bustling Main Street lined with gift stores, boutiques and restaurants. 

Jaspan Hardware has been in business for three decades and owner Marc Geller and his staff love the summer season when regulars stock up on beach chairs, Weber barbeque grills, charcoal and beach related items.  It is open all year, but the summer season is when the store is extra busy.

“This town usually doubles in occupancy from May through the Labor Day weekend,” Geller adds.  “In addition to weekly rentals, there are dozens of families that make Manasquan their home for the summer, so the town is really busy.”    

This summer, Geller saw a dramatic increase in the sale of beach chairs and actually sold out sooner than he anticipated.  “Tourists are here and the local support has really made an impression on me.  Business has been very busy.”  

Geller notes that hundreds of homeowners have been shopping in his store to buy all sorts of home improvement supplies, as many of these houses had minor and major repairs after Hurricane Sandy.  Every day, he sees more and more people moving back into their beach homes and applauds the town of Manasquan for getting the beaches cleaned -- in record speed-- for the summer.

Geller, in remembering Hurricane Sandy, comments that, “It was the strangest thing I have ever seen.  People went wild buying duct tape, batteries, flashlights, garbage bags and anything to board up their homes in preparation for the storm, leaving my store completely sold out.  This town was in full mode emergency alert and, as a local hardware store; we were there to help the community.”  In the days and weeks after the hurricane blasted through the area and caused havoc, his business practically doubled with construction workers and builders coming in to buy supplies.  They shopped local and gave us their support.”

He recalls that it was a truly shocking time for a tight-knit, hometown community that's small in size, but big in heart. While many call Manasquan home, even more look to this place as a summer vacation mainstay.   

Jaspan’s Hardware did not experience any physical damage to the store, but like many others, were without power for ten days.  The store remained open and worked by flashlight and LED-powered lanterns so they could be a resource for the townspeople. 

“It is all about hope.  Squan Strong is an understatement and this community has really worked together to help one another.  Never for one moment did this town stop and think it would not recover.  In fact, people bought lounge chairs as Christmas gifts as they knew in their hearts the town would recover and the beach would be open for the summer season.”

“We’re here, we’re open, and we’re ready for business,” Dempsey said. “People can bring their green bucks here and have a wonderful summer.”

To learn more about this business and others affected by the storm, please visit http://bit.ly/19EYgjm. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the WCEC’s “We’re Storming Back” Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Program provides free workshops, training, and resources to New Jersey businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy to help them to recover and thrive. 

About The WCEC

The WCEC, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit corporation, is a U. S. Small Business Administration’s Women’s Business Center.  The WCEC provides the tools for individuals to successfully own, operate and grow their small businesses, thereby investing financially, intellectually and emotionally in their communities. The WCEC provides more than 150 classes, seminars and individual consulting sessions each year for more than 5,000 participants. For more information please visit www.wcecnj.org/.

Jaspan Hardware

91 Main Street

Manasquan, NJ

732-223-1667

Jaspanhardware.net