Last year, Bob Chapel died at the age of 68. And many thought the death of the man would also mean the death of his business,
But his daughter and her husband, Diane and Karl Zacchara, took over the store, at least for the time being. But after a year of 13-hour days and an inability to find anybody to buy the profitable business, the Zacchara’s have been forced to close
“It’s kind of sad, because it was such a big part of my dad,” Diane Zacchara said.
Bob’s Rod & Tackle will officially close on Dec. 23. Until then, the Zaccharas are hold a going-out-of-business sale on all products.
Bob Chapel
Chapel was a fisherman almost his entire life. At the age of 58, he decided to open Bob’s Rod & Tackle, his dream, Diane Zacchara said.
“This was his hobby,” Karl Zacchara said. “This shop was his baby.”
But in 2010, his rectal cancer got worse and worse. Not that it stopped him, working at the store until two weeks before his death.
"He was here, right to the end," Karl Zacchara said. "And none of the customers knew what he was going through, he never complained."
He also managed to fight long enough to see the birth of his great grandson, Bentley. Bentley was just a few weeks old when Chapel died.
“He loved him,” Diane Zacchara said. “(Chapel) was so excited whenever he saw (Bentley).”
The Last Year
After Chapel died, Diane and Karl Zacchara took it over, giving all the money to Diane’s mother, Chapel’s wife. They tried to find somebody to buy the shop, and although it is “very profitable,” no buyer could be found, Diane Zacchara said.
Eventually, the Zaccharas had to get back to their own jobs. They are closing the business, after a year of fixing fishing poles and selling bait.
“I’m going to miss it,” Diane Zacchara said. “But we have to get back to our lives."
