CRESTLINE — Hempy Water celebrated its grand opening Friday at its new location in Crestline at 216 W. Main St.
The business recently moved from its Park Avenue West location in Mansfield.
“We knew we wanted to find our own home, and this location had been vacant and really let go for quite a few years,” said Jeff Knedler, president of the company.
Knedler said Hempy did a lot of renovation to the building, including repaving the parking lot, excavation and landscaping of the land, remolding the inside of the structure and putting up new windows.
“It’s a totally different facility than what it was before. We like being in small towns when it’s available,” Knedler said. “We’re here on Main Street… It’s a great location.”
Knedler said Hempy Water was founded in 1952 by Earl Hempy in Forest, Ohio.
“Forest,” Knedler said. “Is a one stoplight town that blinks at night. We’re used to small towns. We’re a little bit more country by nature, I guess.
“The response today has been unimaginable. It’s been overwhelming. I can’t tell you have many people have come through today.”
The party Hempy Water threw had an employee grilling burgers, Hempy Water on display and on sale, a wheel for visitors to spin for a chance at a prize and door prizes.
“When you do something like this, and it has this big of an impact, and we have this big of an investment in this small city — you feel good,” Knedler said. “I mean today has made us feel like we’ve done something good.”
