Credits: https://townepost.com/indiana/lakes-region/the-story-of-rentown/
(From 2019)
Leroy Hochstetler (now deceased) first opened the Rentown Country Store in Bremen in 1987 with one shelf of product. Today, Dennis runs the store with his wife. In 2015, the decision was made to expand the store across the street to facilitate the number of people coming to visit the store.
“We added o
n four times until the county said we can’t add on anymore,” Dennis explains. “[In 2015], we built the new store where it is now, and we’ve just been going from there.”
The rich family history stretches back before the store opened, with Dennis’ grandfather and his friend coining the name “Rentown” in the 1950s and 60s. The men were well-known for being involved in the community after their retirement, spending time out and around the town.
“In the Pennsylvania Dutch language, ‘rum-renna’ means ‘getting about,’” Dennis says. “These two neighbor guys were always going here and there, and they said if we don’t watch us, people are going to call us Rentown.”
Today, the store is known as a magnificent hub for fresh produce, deli meats and cheeses. Dennis and his wife prioritize supporting local farmers and selling it in their shop. Currently, they are selling product from four growers within a 10-mile radius. Their main focus, though, is their meats and cheeses.
“Four years ago, I went through my invoices and added up all the cheese we sold, and it was a little more than two tons of cheese,” he says. “We always try to keep the freshest cheese in Northern Indiana and the lowest price.”
