Photo provided by Robin Denman
Louisa and Thurman Hays (pictured here with their son, Chet) started a local small business that now stretches to five generations as Hays Market celebrates its 95th anniversary this year.

By Robin Denman
Special to the Surveyor from The Johnstown Breeze

There is no reason to believe that when Thurman and Louisa Hays began Hays Mercantile Co. in 1929 they could have known that their store would continue to serve the Johnstown and Milliken communities 95 years later. And not only that but incredibly, it would continue in the same family for five generations.

But that is exactly what happened.

Thurman and Louisa came from Indiana in 1928, looking to start a new chapter in their lives. They bought the grocery stock and other merchandise of Blackenbush & Kinney and opened their store that sold everything from wedding dresses to coffee. Thurman, or Dad-O as he was affectionately called by those who knew him, was a farmer at heart, and when Louisa showed a knack for the business, he continued doing what he knew best and farmed while Louisa ran the store.

Now, nearly a century later, the Hays family is still operating Hays Market and meeting the needs of one of the fastest-growing communities in northern Colorado. With only 3% of all family businesses operating in the fourth generation, it’s impressive that this is the fifth generation to run the store. They will be celebrating their 95th anniversary throughout 2024 with “amazing deals, incredible promotions, and fun surprises,” according to their Hays Market website.

Lauryn Hays, great-great-granddaughter of Thurman and Louisa, explains how it all started.

“There was a need in the community, and they said, ‘We can do this.’ And that was the trajectory of our family.”

Thurman and Louisa’s son, Chet, grew up in the store and drove the delivery truck at 14 years old, barely tall enough to see over the steering wheel. His parents taught him to treat customers like friends, and when Chet returned from the Army in World War II, he and his wife, Phyllis (and later Sandra when Phyllis passed away), continued the business and moved the store across the street, to where Fitness Avenue is now.

Lauryn recalls, “I feel like Chet was such a good businessman. He knew everybody and was well-liked. He did so much for the community.”

An article about Chet Hays appeared in the Rocky Mountain News shortly after his death on Aug. 6, 2006, that featured a photo of him with the caption, “Hays continued his parents’ tradition of giving food to the poor and donating money to community causes.” Chet often told his son, Rick, “Worry about the customers you have, not the ones you don’t have.”

Treating customers as neighbors is something that continues with each generation to this day, as evidenced by employees’ conversations with customers that include knowing them by name and catching up on the latest happenings.

As Johnstown grew, the need for a larger store was considered, and by this time Rick and his wife Sally were working at the store and there were discussions about building a new one. Sally remembers, “God said it was time to build. Rick was hesitant and Chet was ready to do it. It was a leap of faith at the time, and it was a good move.”

Rick recalls the move from the old store to the larger, new store. “We packed up boxes and loaded trucks but we literally put boxes in shopping carts and wheeled them across the street,” he said. “Lions Club helped, too. I remember it was the first time we used pallets. We weren’t big enough before that and we had to use rollers that we moved box by box, one at a time, as opposed to the new store where we could unload pallets.”

Not long after the move to the present store, Chet had health issues that forced him to retire, and Rick and Sally took over managing the store. Their three sons, Ryan, Neal, and Russell, helped out and spent time working after school.

Ryan, the eldest son, said, “I knew when we built the new store I’d be running it. I was at the old store, and when Mom and Dad decided to build, it was scary. I wasn’t involved with the decision, but I sat down with Grandpa and we talked about it.”

After completing college, Ryan began working at the store and then managing it. Neal, the middle brother, didn’t think his future was at the store after college graduation.

“I didn’t see it as my future. I enjoyed it but I didn’t think I’d do that as a career,” he said. “I went four years at UW (the University of Wyoming). When I graduated I didn’t think I’d come back to work. I did work as a poor graduate and worked for my dad. Ryan was there as well. Gradually, over time, I was more comfortable, more responsible, seeing how it operated. I started in Johnstown and then started working at the Berthoud store in the middle of 2002.”

Russell explained, “Two weeks before 9/11, the Berthoud store was bought. It didn’t seem like a good decision then, but it turned out to be a blessing.”

Not long after college graduation, Russell found his way to the store.

“After graduating from UNC with a business degree, I went to a couple of interviews at corporate places, and all I talked about was the store,” he said. “One thing led to another, and I decided this is where I wanted to be.”

Presently, Russell runs the Johnstown store, where his daughter Lauryn works. Neal runs the Berthoud store and Ryan goes to both stores. Ryan’s daughter, Addi, another great-great-granddaughter of Thurman and Louisa, recently moved back to Colorado after graduating from college in Nebraska and working at a large grocery store in Iowa.

“I wanted to move back and help out and do more,” she said. “I decided to come back seven months ago and I’m loving it. I love the Berthoud community. They’re great to us. We try to give that back. I love talking to people and listening to their suggestions. We have people who come from Ft. Collins and Denver to buy our meat.”

Lauryn echoes her cousin’s sentiment.

“The greatest thing is the community, the employees, and the relationships,” she said. “We’re so appreciative of the growth. We started at one location and now we have two. Moving forward, we want to continue to grow.”

When asked what the best thing is about having his family involved in this business for nearly a hundred years, Ryan had no hesitation. “The customers, for sure,” he said. “And being able to employ members of the community. We’re here with the employees and that’s different from the big chains.”

“Danny Quintana has been with us since August of 1978,” Russell added. “Danny exemplifies what we want Hays Market to represent in customer service – friendliness, a smiling face, and a helpful employee.

“It makes me proud that our family has been around and provided for the community. The longer we go and the older I get, I realize how impactful, not only for our family but for our customers, we have been. The comments they have made keep us enjoying it and I wouldn’t trade it for all the world.”

Neal agreed with his brothers.

“We’re extremely blessed to be in these communities,” he said. “We have amazing employees and customers. Just like any job you spend as much time, or more, with them as you do your family. Berthoud has had a lot of growth in the last five years, and we have to have growth. We know there will be challenges.”

Terry Larrick, a Johnstown resident, was asked how she felt about having Hays Market in the community. “The local convenience is the best,” she said. “The cost of my time and gas saves me a trip to Greeley or Loveland and is so helpful. The cashiers are super friendly. We like their fried chicken on Tuesday and Thursday. I frequently run into people I know and get caught up on the latest. I go there four times a week and they have almost everything I need.”

Sally Hays sums up the anniversary and legacy by saying, “I think it’s amazing. You feel proud. You feel humbled. We try not to take it for granted. Very few family-owned businesses go into the third generation, and now it’s into the fifth generation. I loved it and I miss the people, but it’s about our kids now. You need the new blood, the energy, and the excitement. We did it and our kids have done it, and now our grandkids are doing it. All we can do is keep the small-town attitude of friendliness and acceptance of others. The only thing that makes us successful is the support of the community. That’s the bottom line.”