Gene’s Appliance Co. celebrates 50 years of hometown service

Anniversary set Dec. 1-2

  • (From left) Ronald Drozd, Lucille Drozd and Robert “Jack” Etzler pose in Gene’s Appliance Co.
    (From left) Ronald Drozd, Lucille Drozd and Robert “Jack” Etzler pose in Gene’s Appliance Co.
  • Gene’s staff will distribute commemorative ornaments for their 50th anniversary Dec. 1-2. Photo by Hans Lammeman
    Gene’s staff will distribute commemorative ornaments for their 50th anniversary Dec. 1-2. Photo by Hans Lammeman
  • Gene’s Appliance Co. is celebrating 50 years of operation at their shop in Hallettsville at 306 First St. in Hallettsville. Photo by Hans Lammeman
    Gene’s Appliance Co. is celebrating 50 years of operation at their shop in Hallettsville at 306 First St. in Hallettsville. Photo by Hans Lammeman
  • Lucille Drozd answers a customer’s question over the phone Nov. 21. Photo by Hans Lammeman
    Lucille Drozd answers a customer’s question over the phone Nov. 21. Photo by Hans Lammeman

    Five decades after opening up shop in Hallettsville, Gene’s Appliance Co. continues to provide appliances to local homes and businesses with a business model centered around their original motto: “We service what we sell.” 

     

    To commemorate 50 years of continuous operation in Lavaca County,  Lucille Drozd and the rest of Gene’s tight-knit staff encourage community members to enjoy refreshments while reminiscing over the many years of memories in their shop at 306 First St. 

     

    “We want to invite all of our customers to come by on Dec. 1 or Dec. 2 to help us celebrate 50 years and register for a drawing of a chest freezer with Blue Bell ice cream in memory of Gene (Drozd),” said Lucille. “His favorite thing to do each night was indulge in a bowl of Homemade Vanilla.”

     

    When asked about the company's secret to longevity and prosperity over the years, Lucille said it was a dedication to servicing their customers at their homes with family-like care. 

     

    Gene’s initially opened in the Farm Bureau building on Texana Street on Dec. 1, 1972, but eventually outgrew the original facility and moved to its present-day location on First Street. The staff today consists of familiar faces with many decades of experience: Lucille, her son Ronald and Robert “Jack” Etzler. 

     

    “We are busier now than we have ever been because we service, and people finally want to buy from a mom-and-pop store - as they call them - and they aren’t many left…” said Lucille. “We thank our customers very much. They have been thankful too, and have come back. We don’t sell to everybody, but I am just glad they come in to check prices and see what we have. That is all you can ask for.”

     

    Gene’s staff said that anniversary-celebration guests would be provided cookies, sodas, entries for the freezer drawing and commemorative Christmas ornaments as they last.