Correspondent photo / Nancilynn Gatta Brad Rankin of Farmdale, foreground, points out how to play the game Roundabout to his daughter, Zoe, 12, while Rankin’s wife, Bridget and their son, Patric, 15, discuss how to play another wooden board game on one of the tables at Fowler General Store. They played games while waiting for their deli sandwich order during the grand reopening Saturday.

FOWLER — Dreams do come true. At least they have for Santino DeFalco of Burghill, the new owner of Fowler General Store.

“There is an apartment in the basement of Fowler General Store. I used to visit my brother, Lance, when he lived there. I always thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have a store selling fresh produce and other items?'” DeFalco said.

Now, he owns one and has turned the location back into what the business was several versions ago for the rural area.

Vinnie Propst is co-owner/business partner in Valley Agventures, the umbrella company that owns it.

At the grand reopening Saturday, customers were treated to DeFalco’s vision — fresh produce, local honey and maple syrup were available for purchase, a deli counter with cold items, fresh hot food from an Amish kitchen, Cockeye Creamery ice cream and daily essentials, such as aspirin and napkins.

Shawn and Heather Curry of Niles were the previous owners.

It was a family-run business. Shawn Curry is working there temporarily to help DeFalco with the transition while he learns about running the store.

“I am very excited for Santino. The place looks great since they remodeled,” Curry said.

The Curry family marked their last day of business on Feb. 14 with free thank you sandwiches of pulled pork for their loyal customers. DeFalco was introduced then as the new owner.

In three weeks, the building was remodeled, painted and restocked for the grand reopening. DeFalco’s business also will have a lot of family involvement. During the reopening, his mom, Melissa Rein, sat at a table at the front window putting price stickers on nail clippers that will be placed on the sales floor.

“I will work at the store,” Rein said.

Melanie Jarvis of Niles is DeFalco’s aunt. She cleaned off the tables and delivered food to guests from the kitchen and deli.

“I will work here on weekends,” she said.

Propst said he will work at the store in any capacity that they need him.

For locals, the general store is a place that they previously visited to make purchases, but they were curious about this latest version of the business.

“We moved here 14 years ago from western New York,” said Bridget Rankin of Farmdale. “We have come to the store over the years and we heard about the grand reopening on Facebook. We decided to check it out.”

Rankin, her husband, Brad, and children, Patric and Zoe, played classic wooden peg games that are on the tables in the store while they waited for their deli orders. The Rankin children also enjoyed the classic candy that is sold in bulk — honey sticks in green apple and lemon flavors.

For other customers such as Debbie Cattell of Jefferson and Linda Williams of Champion, the store was a destination on their travels.

“We were returning from a quilt event in Ravenna and I saw the grand reopening on Facebook,” Cattell said.

They stopped at small, interesting businesses on their way home from their quilt gathering. Fowler General Store became one of their destinations.

Williams and Cattell enjoyed their Cockeye Creamery ice cream on an unusually warm March day. Cockeye is headquartered in Warren.

From the mix of old and new customers and the long line at the checkout counter, DeFalco apparently has successfully started the new phase of Fowler General Store

“I am so proud of him. He did it,” Jarvis said.

Rein agreed,” I couldn’t be more proud that he has done all of this at such a young age.”

Fowler General Store is located at 3457 Youngstown Kingsville Road. The store is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 8 p..m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.