Yantzi Home Building Centre marks 75 years with support for Tavistock medical facility
By Gary West
There was plenty to celebrate recently at Yantzi Home Building Centre, one mile east of Tavistock in the area long known locally as Yantziville.
The business is marking 75 years since brothers Andrew and Omar Yantzi began building sheds, barns and homes throughout the Tavistock area and across Oxford, Perth and Waterloo counties.
Over the years, the company has grown into much more than a lumber and building centre, adding kitchen, bath and flooring services along with home décor and decorating advice from its longtime staff.
Today, the business is owned and managed by Darlene Yantzi, her late brother’s son, Steffan, and her sister, Joyce Ropp.
The family also expanded its Home Hardware presence in 2018 with a store in downtown Tavistock. Darlene Yantzi has said the store has been well supported by area farmers and homeowners who appreciate having a local hardware store close to home.
To help celebrate the milestone anniversary, the family hosted a two-day barbecue with help from directors of Tavistock Community Health Inc. (TCHI).
Funds raised during the event will support TCHI’s ongoing Neighbours Helping Neighbours fundraising campaign, which is helping fund improvements to Tavistock’s medical facility on Maria Street.
The celebration also included a major donation from the Yantzi family to TCHI in recognition of the board’s efforts to improve local medical services.
During the barbecue, many area residents shared memories of the early days of the business and spoke about the role Yantzi’s has played in supplying building materials and other products throughout the community.
Now in its third generation, the family business continues its tradition of serving customers throughout the Tavistock area.
Current TCHI board members are chair Greta Riedel, Frank Meconi, Russ Huber, Dennis Kuepfer, Beverly Neeb, Carolyn Kropf, Paul Diamond, Deb Wagler, Scott Strickland and Amanda Pavey.
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