| History of Gridleys |
While Jack had planned to get a job in
education once they moved to Arizona, what
he found were similar kinds of changes in the
profession he dealt with in Michigan. Instead
Jack and Fay decided they would go into
business together. So, when a discussion
with one of the executive assistants at
McCulloch Properties, original developer of
Fountain Hills, affirmed Fay's dreams of
opening an office products store, the plan
was a go. "She said they needed office
products and they had to drive so far to get
them," Fay says. And Jack decided to do a
printing business along with the office
products. In August of 1973 they opened
McDowell Mountain Stationery and Office
Supply.
education once they moved to Arizona, what
he found were similar kinds of changes in the
profession he dealt with in Michigan. Instead
Jack and Fay decided they would go into
business together. So, when a discussion
with one of the executive assistants at
McCulloch Properties, original developer of
Fountain Hills, affirmed Fay's dreams of
opening an office products store, the plan
was a go. "She said they needed office
products and they had to drive so far to get
them," Fay says. And Jack decided to do a
printing business along with the office
products. In August of 1973 they opened
McDowell Mountain Stationery and Office
Supply.
As computers and home copiers developed,
Gridleys had to evolve to keep busy.
Eventually the printing business was stopped,
but their son Mark expanded those services
opening CSI Printing located only a few
businesses down from the original business
location. In 1982 Oliphant joined them after
working for Chaparral Water and doing trade
publication for landscaping and architecture.
Jack and Gail came up with the idea of
providing framing for photos and artwork,
which eventually led to them selling art
supplies. Oliphant later won an international
award for her framing work, which still keeps
Gridleys busy. "We were all surprised, even
Gail was, what a talent she has for it," says
Fay. On a Wednesday morning the steady
flow of customers mill about the store, some
with a specific agenda to make copies of
blueprints, others simply looking at all the
gifts on display.
Gridleys had to evolve to keep busy.
Eventually the printing business was stopped,
but their son Mark expanded those services
opening CSI Printing located only a few
businesses down from the original business
location. In 1982 Oliphant joined them after
working for Chaparral Water and doing trade
publication for landscaping and architecture.
Jack and Gail came up with the idea of
providing framing for photos and artwork,
which eventually led to them selling art
supplies. Oliphant later won an international
award for her framing work, which still keeps
Gridleys busy. "We were all surprised, even
Gail was, what a talent she has for it," says
Fay. On a Wednesday morning the steady
flow of customers mill about the store, some
with a specific agenda to make copies of
blueprints, others simply looking at all the
gifts on display.
Most, however, aren't new
customers, but regulars staying
loyal to a family-run business.
"We have no intention of retiring,
both my wife and I enjoy working
at it," says Jack. Plus, the way
Jack looks at it, he's already
retired three times. Once from
the Army, another from education
and now he receives Social
Security. "I've retired three times
in life, so that's enough," he says
with a smile.
customers, but regulars staying
loyal to a family-run business.
"We have no intention of retiring,
both my wife and I enjoy working
at it," says Jack. Plus, the way
Jack looks at it, he's already
retired three times. Once from
the Army, another from education
and now he receives Social
Security. "I've retired three times
in life, so that's enough," he says
with a smile.
Fay Gridley recalls vividly the first customer and what they bough more
than 30 years ago when the Fountain Hills business opened. It was
Elmer Burrell, who helped start the local Lutheran Church, and he
bought a Smith-Corona typewriter ribbon. "We still sell that ribbon
today and people are surprised we have it," says Fay. Before Fay and
Jack Gridley, owners of Gridleys, could get the items priced and the
shelves stocked while people were in the store buying things off of the
floor. While the business community throughout the Valley become
overrun with franchise stores, Gridleys is one of the few family-run
business continuing to serve Fountain Hills, Arizona. Meeting the needs
of the community was what started the office products, printing and
gift store, and as the town has evolved so has Gridleys. It's one of the
reasons for their survival. "We have a really good staff here," says Fay.
"We don't feel like we're selling so much as helping fulfill a person's
needs."
than 30 years ago when the Fountain Hills business opened. It was
Elmer Burrell, who helped start the local Lutheran Church, and he
bought a Smith-Corona typewriter ribbon. "We still sell that ribbon
today and people are surprised we have it," says Fay. Before Fay and
Jack Gridley, owners of Gridleys, could get the items priced and the
shelves stocked while people were in the store buying things off of the
floor. While the business community throughout the Valley become
overrun with franchise stores, Gridleys is one of the few family-run
business continuing to serve Fountain Hills, Arizona. Meeting the needs
of the community was what started the office products, printing and
gift store, and as the town has evolved so has Gridleys. It's one of the
reasons for their survival. "We have a really good staff here," says Fay.
"We don't feel like we're selling so much as helping fulfill a person's
needs."
| Jack's parents wintered in the Valley, so the Gridleys would come out to visit them. Jack's work in education as a superintendent of schools in Kalamazoo, Michigan had gotten to a point where he didn't enjoy the job as much. Hoping to find a change in Arizona, his parents told him to take a look at Fountain Hills. "He was so excited about Fountain Hills and he came back and said, 'It ends all your objections about Arizona, Fay," she says smiling. "It wasn't flat," adds Gail Oliphant, the Gridleys' daughter and president of the corporation. Fay had worked as the office manager for a group of attorneys. When Jack asked her what she wanted to do when they moved to Arizona, it was to open an office products store. |
A year later the gas crisis put a strain on business as construction of homes slowed
because Fountain Hills seemed far away from the rest of the Valley. It would be the first
of many little recessions the Gridleys survived by shear perseverance and evolving with
the community. "This business evolves and it's not the same business as when we
opened," Fay says. "We've based it on what people have needed." In 1977 they moved
the business to Avenue of the Fountains, adding a gift department and changing the
name to Gridleys of Fountain Hills. "As other businesses have come in we've tried to
remain unique," says Oliphant. With more and more construction going on, Gridleys did
printing of blue prints and quickly decided to carry drafting supplies to complement those
services. They also did church bulletins, printed the first newspaper, and the first phone
book.
because Fountain Hills seemed far away from the rest of the Valley. It would be the first
of many little recessions the Gridleys survived by shear perseverance and evolving with
the community. "This business evolves and it's not the same business as when we
opened," Fay says. "We've based it on what people have needed." In 1977 they moved
the business to Avenue of the Fountains, adding a gift department and changing the
name to Gridleys of Fountain Hills. "As other businesses have come in we've tried to
remain unique," says Oliphant. With more and more construction going on, Gridleys did
printing of blue prints and quickly decided to carry drafting supplies to complement those
services. They also did church bulletins, printed the first newspaper, and the first phone
book.