Peddling treasures amid an apple orchard

1. How did you end up here opening up a shop?

We came from southern California 15 years ago. I grew up in Auglaize County. It was like coming home. I was gone 40 years. We found out this was on the market. My grandparents built the house and this farm was theirs years ago.

2. People may pass by your shop here on U.S. Route 33 and not know the shop is here. What do you offer at The Apple House?

Along with the gift and collectible shop here, [my husband,] Bill, does ice cream from May 1 to Oct. 1 at the top of the hill. In the fall of course we have apples. Most of our apples now are used in making fresh cider, which people want. They want the old-fashioned cider, not the store-bought. We do a great cider business.

3. What inspired you to open up the farm and create the shop?

I came back for a class reunion and that's how we found out this was on the market. It just seemed like a logical, fun thing to do, something different. We're almost halfway between Columbus and Fort Wayne, [Ind.,] so we have a wonderful traffic pattern with people who come here and return. I did have a business in southern California.

4. What have you learned over the 15 years about the people who come in the shop?

How wonderful they are. It's like an armchair travel log because I'm always interested in where they are from, where they are going. I keep an atlas under the counter; I've worn out two atlases because I always look to see where they're coming from or heading to. We have a wonderful traffic pattern from the east coast to Chicago. The main pattern is Columbus to Fort Wayne, [Ind.] The clientele we have are what make it. I should have had an advanced degree in counseling because I listen to so many stories.

5. The shop features a wide array of collectibles and gifts. Are there particular things you focus on with the shop?

One is what customers are looking for and the other is something you don't find anyplace else. My customers make wonderful suggestions or requests and things I love - history, biography, red, white and blue. I've been a red, white and blue collector and designer for 30 or 40 years.

6. What inspired the name of The Apple House?

We're surrounded by the orchard. It's always been interesting because people call it the Apple Farm, the Apple Place, everything.