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The Ben Franklin store in Crystal Falls has recently been remodeled and opened under new owners, Stacy and Jason Gasperich. Former owner Staria Syrjanen’s grandfather Battista Girolimon opened the U.P.’s first Ben Franklin franchise in 1929. (submitted photo)
The Ben Franklin store in Crystal Falls has recently been remodeled and opened under new owners, Stacy and Jason Gasperich. Former owner Staria Syrjanen’s grandfather Battista Girolimon opened the U.P.’s first Ben Franklin franchise in 1929. (submitted photo)
The Ben Franklin store in Crystal Falls has recently been remodeled and opened under new owners, Stacy and Jason Gasperich. Former owner Staria Syrjanen’s grandfather Battista Girolimon opened the U.P.’s first Ben Franklin franchise in 1929. (submitted photo)
By Jenny Roberts
CRYSTAL FALLS — Ben Franklin in Crystal Falls has officially re-opened under new ownership as of Saturday, May 14.
Owners Stacy and Jeff Gasperich have been hard at work since January when Staria and Jeff Syrjanen, former owners for 38 years, handed them the keys to take over the beloved store.
The opening was unannounced with little fanfare, but the community showed great support when the “open” sign hit the sidewalk.
“We had a big turn out and have been going steady.,” said Stacy Gasperich.
It’s taken the couple longer than they expected to get the store where they wanted for opening day, but they did it. Between an extensive remodel and Stacy faithfully fulfilling her role to the end as controller and human resource Manager for Angeli’s, the delays were important to get the couple and the Ben Franklin store where it needed to be to better serve its customers.
“It was important for to me to see my role at Angeli’s all the way through to the end,” Gasperich said. “Fred and Beth Angeli have been so good to me the last three years and I really wanted to be there to help them during this time of transition.”
The remodel of the Ben Franklin store included a complete overhaul with the Gasperich’s taking the building down to its studs.
“We put in new floors, lighting fixtures, cabinets, a cash wrap, a candy counter and cabinets, as well as painted the walls,” she explained. “We also hung up some old photos and brought up a couple 100-year-old tables from the basement. It’s been a lot of hard work, but we are excited to finally be open.”
The building may have had a complete make-over, but the Gasperich’s intend to keep the same business model the Syrjanens implemented during their 38 years of running the store.
“Their business model was successful; they treated their customers like family and really listened to what the people were asking for,” Gasperich said. “We plan to do the same.”
Owning the store is the realization of a long-held dream for Gasperich, who visited Crystal Falls as a child before moving to the town over a decade ago.
“When we moved here, I would come in and I’d always just say, ‘Ugh, when I grow up, I just want to own the Ben Franklin.’ So, I’ve been saying it for 13 years and it’s finally coming true,” she told the Reporter late last year when news of the sale came to light.
The Gasperich’s will continue a legacy carried on by the Syrjanen’s and started when Staria Syrjanen’s late grandfather Battista Girolimo opened the store. The Syrjanen’s took it over almost 40 years ago from Staria’s parents, Olga and Albert “Mink” Satori.
“It’s very hard for us to retire, but yet it’s been a lot easier knowing who is taking it over,” Jeff Syrjanen told the Reporter in late 2021. “Just watching their family in here and watching them move around here makes us feel so much better, knowing that it’s going to be in good hands,
The Ben Franklin store is located at 301 Superior Avenue in Crystal Falls and its hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.