ADRIAN — Some may think of their vacuum cleaner as something that, once it breaks, just has to be taken out to the curb.

Not so, say Linda and Jim Tate, who have been selling and servicing vacuums at the Vac Shoppe in Adrian for nearly 40 years.

“As long as we can get parts, we can usually fix the vacuums that come through our door,” Linda said.

Linda Tate has a history of service to Lenawee County residents for vacuum repair. She started as a bookkeeper at Tri State Industrial in 1971, which sold only Kirby vacuum cleaners. Then in 1985, Tri State was closing, and Linda had the chance to either buy it, or find another job. She bought it, and the assets included a workbench, all of the company files, two Kirby vacuum cleaners and $300 worth of parts.  Linda Tate was in the vacuum repair business.

She rented buildings for the repair service, and in 1987, as rents kept escalating, she was forced to find new rental space. She moved to a location where Tim Hortons now resides in Adrian, and spent 4 1/2 years there selling only Kirby vacuums. Since Kirby vacuums could not be sold in stores (only door to door sales), she switched to Royal and then to Dirt Devil. Eventually the owner was going to sell the building she rented, so she moved again.  

This time, she moved to a location at Beecher and Madison, and the building was in such disrepair, she had to wear a snowmobile suit to work during winter months. The Tates decided they were done with renting.

At this point, they calculated that it would be cheaper to build their own building than to continue to rent. That is exactly what they did, and have now been in their new building at 2470 W. Beecher Road for 15 years, servicing all makes and models of vacuums.  

So why go to a professional vacuum shop when you can buy vacuums anywhere?

“Big retailers carry brands that sell cheaper vacuums,” Linda said. “When the vac breaks, you just have to buy another one, because you cannot get parts for these cheaper vacuums. So, it makes sense to buy a better vacuum with longer service records where parts are available.” 

They have their share of stories to tell about unique customers who have come to their shop for service.  “When you are in business this long, you have some exotic customers.”  However, though Jim is 85 and Linda is 79, they do not intend to retire anytime soon.