Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Martin Appliance manager Linford Leinbach (left) and store manager Wendell Martin stand in one of four kitchen displays at the Sabbath Rest Road location.
While Martin Appliance has only been in the Altoona area since 2009, the business has been in Pennsylvania much longer and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Many residents know Martin through its water conditioning branch, but it has humble roots.
In 1973, Dennis Martin started repairing appliances in a 200-square-foot garage in Myerstown, Lebanon County. He found customers needed options for new appliances and opened his first store there in 1979.
Over the years, Martin expanded his business by acquiring appliance stores in Cleona, Reading, Quarryville, Ephrata and Brownstown, all in the eastern part of the state.
Martin’s came to the Altoona area when the company acquired a Kinetico water territory, as Martin Water Conditioning had been utilizing Kinetico’s home water system since 1979.
Jeri Clark, Kinetico dealer development manager, said Martin has been the No. 1 Kinetico dealer 14 times.
“They are always so willing to go the extra mile for their customers as well as business partners,” Clark said.
The water treatment business paved the way for Martin Appliance in the area.
“You can do water treatment without a brick and mortar store,” said Wendell Martin, Altoona store manager.
In its early days in Altoona, Martin’s repaired appliances, establishing a customer base in the region, said Linford Leinbach, Altoona appliance manager.
After about 10 years, Martin’s bought Klobetanz Water on Sixth Avenue, leased the building and started to sell appliances.
In 2021, Martin’s purchased the former Powersports building on Sabbath Rest Road in Antis Township. After some renovations, the new store opened in February 2022.
The store sells everything from toasters to refrigerators, Martin said, adding, “You name the appliance, we have it.”
Altoona native Mark Vukmanovich, GE retail area sales manager, said Martin’s is an impressive organization.
“Not only do they focus on the consumer experience, they also should be admired for their values and commitment to their employee staff,” he said, noting the company invests in not only the store, but in its staff, tech and training.
The store offers service and repair and has parts available, services that go back to its beginnings.
“Establishing a customer base with repairs sets the base for a store,” Leinbach said.
The company boasts 420 employees, with 33 in the Altoona area, and is expected to grow with possibly some new locations, he said.
“Dennis uses this quote ‘Service is the right thing to do, treat people like we would like to be treated. To give everyone that comes in the door a good experience so they leave smiling.’ That has driven our success over the years,” Wendell Martin said.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.
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