2020 Person of the Year: The Decker Family

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Correspondent
 
One of this year’s nominations for Persons of the Year is the Decker family, owners of Decker’s Market in Newcastle. Serving the community since 1954, the Decker family and their store has left a legacy of community centeredness and involvement, according to employees. 
“They’ve always served the community,” said Gary Clarke, a manager at the store. Clarke has worked for the family for 28 years, and he was the store manager and Danny Decker’s right-hand man for many years. 
Whether it’s donations to various organizations around town, supporting schools, attending auctions or providing jobs, the Decker family has been there, Clarke said. 
“That’s one of the main reasons I came to work for Decker’s,” Clint Mullen said. Mullen has worked for the store as store director for about a year. Before that, he got to know the Decker family because he worked for a wholesaler that did business with Decker’s. The family’s values, character and involvement in the community, as well as how they treat their employees, are all what drew Mullen to work for them. 
Danny’s father, Max, opened the store in September of 1954. Growing up, Danny said, he spent a lot of time at the store doing odd jobs and helping out. At 14, he started working there officially. 
Danny became partner in the business in the early 1970s, and his brother, Kenny, joined in the early 1980s before eventually moving away. However, even in retirement, Danny said, his father was always an integral part of the store. 
Becky, Danny’s wife, has run the floral and gift shop for many years, and their children, Jeremiah and Ashley, are also heavily involved in the business. 
Jeremiah echoed much of the same experience as his dad — doing odd jobs at the store until he started working there when he was about 14. Jeremiah became owner of the store in October of 2015. 
Ashley said that she always loved helping at the store, and she remembers walking to the store to get a donut when she was young. She too started working there when she was 14, and she continued working there through high school and during summer breaks when she was in college. Ashley now designs the weekly ads for the store. She also did much of the interior design for the new store building, which opened earlier this year. 
“Growing up in the family business taught me to have strong work ethics and to always work hard,” Ashley said. “I always admired my grandpa and parents and all they have accomplished in life through hard work.”
Danny and Jeremiah said that being in business with family allows the business to continue because of the shared sense of responsibility. 
As business owners in the community, as well as in Lusk and Sundance where they operate stores, the Decker family said that they always try to be involved and invested in the communities they serve. 
They sponsor and contribute to local schools, fire departments and other organizations, as well as shop and employ locally. 
The new store, located at 701 Washington Blvd. in Newcastle, was built almost entirely by local contractors. 
“Everyone we could source locally, we did,” Jeremiah said. “It was really cool to see that come together.” 
With the new space, new services could be offered to the community. Pharmacist Ruth Taylor opened up Cambria Discount Drug in the store, and the store also boasts a larger gift shop section, a coffee shop and more space with a better flow, Jeremiah said. 
“If you make an investment of this size in the community, you plan on operating here for a long time,” Jeremiah said, noting that he and his family are here for the “long game.” 
This year, Decker’s Market helped with the United Fund Pie Auction by providing space for it to be held, as well as donating all the product and baked goods. Clarke said the event was a success and the auction raised more than $6,000 for various organizations. 
“We were happy to do it,” Jeremiah said. 
Both Clarke and Mullen said that the Decker family treats their employees extremely well, and they employ over 80 individuals. 
“I’m very, very proud to say I’ve worked for them for 28 years,” Clarke said. 
Jeremiah said that, in their old building, they had a door in the basement that they had each and every one of their employees sign. That door has hundreds of signatures on it, even going back to the 1960s or 1970s. 
The Decker family expressed a devotion to the community, and they said that it’s important to support one’s community, especially small businesses. Their ultimate goal, Jeremiah said, is to see Newcastle succeed. 
“My Grandpa Max used to say the best thing you can do for your town is run a good business,” Ashley said. 
And that they have done, according to Clarke and Mullen. 
“It has been a privilege working with people in the community and helping our customers. We’re just grateful for all the support the community has shown us through the years, and are proud to be a part of Newcastle,” Becky said.