CLYMER — Across the county, a handful of businesses continue to be owned by the families that started them, and this includes Neckers Company General Store in Clymer.

Located at the four corners in the center of town at 8742 W. Main St., Neckers was first started by John Neckers in 1910. His son, Delbert Neckers, bought a share in the business in 1917.

Delbert Neckers’s four sons — Allan, Glenn, John and Harold — were all brought up in the business as well. Allan, Glenn and John all spent time in the service during World War II. Allan eventually made his home in Florida, and Glenn joined the partnership of Neckers Company, which then consisted of John Neckers Sr., Delbert Neckers and Clyde Howles, John Neckers’s son in law.

John Neckers Sr. passed away in 1947. In 1949, Clyde Howles’s part in the business was purchased by Delbert and Glenn Neckers. Delbert Neckers passed away in 1949 and Harold Neckers — better known as Boo Neckers — joined the partnership in 1950. Following that, it was run by Glenn, Harold and John Neckers Jr.

One of the earliest existing photos of what would become the Neckers Company. The photo is from the late 1800s, when AG Beach was the proprietor. Submitted photo

Following family issues, John Neckers Jr.’s part in the business was bought out by Glenn and Boo Neckers in 1962.

In the late 1980s, Boo Neckers became sole owner, later passing it on to his son, Barry Neckers, who is now the fourth generation owner of the store, along with his wife, Kathy.

“I think any family-run business that lasts through several generations is built from the ground up,” Barry Neckers said. “I always say we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. We appreciate them because, without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Barry Neckers said a focus of the store has always been customer service and treating people right. He added that this is one of the many things he has learned owning the store throughout the years. The list also includes: no favoritism and no frowning on those who do not have much; and to help those people when possible.

“My dad always said, ‘When you are given something you have a responsibility to do the best you can with it,’ and if it doesn’t work out then it doesn’t work out,” Barry Neckers said. “My motto is to do your best, and I tell that to my employees all the time. If you do your best, then you have no regrets and at least you tried.”

Pictured is a side view of Neckers Company General Store as it stands today in the center of Clymer. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

Barry Neckers added that having years of experience in owning the store allows him and his employees to build off of that experience and to continue to work to do their best.