Stop down to CloftS Corner

SANDUSKY — They found the right angle so their corner store can succeed. The Lofties family — spouses Curtis and Sheri along with their daughter, Nicole — recently rebranded their convenience store, formerly known as CloftS Old Fashioned General Store, into CloftS Corner. It also relocated from Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) near the Cedar Point Sports Center to 1304 Hayes Ave. (Ohio 4) in a plaza across from Firelands Regional Medical Center. "There has not been anything grocery-related in this area since IGA was here, and that was at least 20 years ago," Curtis said. "Before us, there was nothing walkable here where someone can grab groceries." Added Sheri: "Being by the hospital, Sandusky's No. 1 employer, is also huge for us." CloftS set up shop in a storefront once home to a Jimmy John's. Founded in 2019, this marks its third location when factoring in its first site in downtown Sandusky. "We were seeking something with indoor seating and a drive-thru window and thought this was perfect," Sheri said. "And we have added a full ice cream parlor, serving Toft Dairy ice cream, to our already-established grocery store." Beyond grocery and non-perishable items, which CloftS previously offered, in its new location, customers can also buy hot food such as sandwiches, hot dogs and nachos. The ice cream, meanwhile, comes in varieties such as sundaes, banana splits and milkshakes. Sheri then pivoted to talk about the benefits of a drive-thru window, an amenity not available in CloftS' past spots. "People love it," Sheri said. "I drive out of my way to go to a window where I don't have to get out of my car. It's a convenience to get groceries and food and anything else we sell here." The Lofties also take pride in their move. They're in a fully minority-owned plaza, neighbors with businesses Monster Kutz, owned by Antonio Hardin, and The Garden of Edy, owned by Edith "Edy" Harlan. "That's a plus for us to be part of it," Sheri said. Customers can visit CloftS from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The owners want to expand their hours soon. "They will get good food, good service and good conversation here," Sheri said. What's in a name? Some people might wonder why the "C" and the "S" in CloftS are capitalized. It's to represent the first names of co-owners Curtis and Sheri.