Keystone Vacuum

Happy Holidays from the Keystone Vacuum team. We want to thank you for an amazing 2025 and look forward to serving you in 2026. 🎉 🎊

A note from the owner:

Yesterday I didn't lose an employee, I lost a great friend. I briefly met Bob back in 2014 when I was visiting Sweeper City. Bob and I reconnected in 2022 at the soon to be closed Sweeper City, just days after Bill, the founder had passed away. I stopped by to offer my condolences and I could tell Bob was heartbroken over Bill's passing. While I was there, I also observed Bob's incredible love for the store and the loyal following they had cultivated over the decades. I was in the store for maybe an hour and listened to him tell at least a dozen heartbroken and worried customer that the store they loved would soon be closing.

A few days later Bob and I met for breakfast at the Eat N Park across the street and I asked him "Do you think there's potential there?" he looked across the street at the now closed Sweeper City and said with great sadness, but great confidence "Yes. There's unlimited potential". Thus began an almost 3-month process to get the store reopened. Bob promised to stay on with me, as I knew I absolutely could not take on this project without someone with his encyclopedic knowledge of vacuums, retail, and Butler County. I had run a 1,000 sq. ft. store, but never a 4,000 sq. ft. store. I was used to a business that served 10 customers a day, not 10 customers per hour. This was uncharted territory for me, but I knew I had a great advisor by my side.

It was January 5th 2023 and Keystone Vacuum officially opened for business (Kind of). For the first few weeks, Bob would spend 12-14 hours a day at the store with us. Cleaning, repairing, serving customers and helping us find our footing in this new space. I'm sure Bob probably heard us calling his name in his sleep because of the infinite number of times that we'd call out for him whenever we couldn't find a part or needed help with a customer who didn't know what kind of vacuum they had and would simply state "Just ask Bob! He knows what vacuum I have". They were right. He did.

Bob and I had a wonderful friendship and it was heartbreaking when he fell ill last October. You never understand how much you truly rely on someone until they're no longer there everyday. There are days that I walk through my store, looking around and seeing everything I dreamed of. A beautiful store with a great team, great customers, and an environment that makes me feel thankful to come to work everyday. The truth is, it wouldn't have happened without Bob. Bob will forever be a part of Keystone Vacuum and Sweeper City. Until we meet again, you will forever be in all of our hearts.
-Evan
Keystone Vacuum