Trader Horn is celebrating 50 years in business. The chain was at one time called Warehouse Sales, as the Route 422 store appears in this photograph from 1979.

PENN TWP — Fifty years in business says you're doing something right.

Bob and Judy Greenberger, owners of the Trader Horn chain of stores, are in the middle of celebrating their 50th business anniversary.

Bob Greenberger said his father and uncle started Warehouse Sales, Trader Horn's former name, in 1952 in Sharon. That expanded to four stores, including the Route 422 west store in Butler County.

"They started with auto parts but thought that there was a good future in discount houses (stores)," he said.

When his father died, the business was divided, and Greenberger went to work at what was then Butler County's only Warehouse Sales for his mother.

Since then, Warehouse Sales was renamed. Judy Greenberger said an employee said he always thought Trader Horn would be a good name for a store. It was based on "Trader Horn: A Young Man's Astounding Adventures in 19th Century Equatorial Africa" that was written by Alfred Aloysius Horn in the 1920s, detailing his adventures as an ivory trader.

Now the chain has 10 stores ranging is size from 14,000 square feet to 90,000 square feet with about 375 employees.

"We look for people who fit, and then they tend to stay here," said Bob Greenberger, mentioning some employees have been with the company for 40 years.

Judy Greenberger points out the chain has been the first employer for many young workers.

"Its important to be a good first employer. Some of the kids don't like the discipline at first, but in the end, I think they appreciate it," she said.

Besides having the right people working in the right places for the company, Bob Greenberger said the secret to Trader Horn's success is that over the years they have learned to "try anything and listen to our customers."

Judy Greenberger said each employee must carry a small pad of paper and a pencil, and when a customer asks for an item the store does not have, the company looks into getting it.

She also said they try to fit into each community, providing the services and products residents and customers need.

"Here at the Route 8 store, we try to carry convenience items, so that people in this area don't have to drive so far for aspirin or milk," Judy Greenberger said.

When Bank's Big B Market, a grocery just north of Hooker on Route 38, burned down and closed in July 1998, the company added milk and a few grocery products to its Eau Claire store so residents would not have to drive far for a few kitchen basics, Judy Greenberger said.

The Greenbergers' efforts have led to a motto for the company — Trader Horn: My favorite store.

Judy Greenberger said she has heard it many times when she mentions Trader Horn.

"'Oh, that's my favorite store,' people say, so we thought it was time to recognize what people have been saying all of these years," she said.

Even though they have been in business for 50 years, the Greenbergers have no plans to retire anytime soon. And they appreciate all their customers over that time.

"Thank you for being warm and excepting and really loyal to us," Judy Greenberger said. "We moved here, put our roots down and worked to treat our customers right, just as they have always treated us."

Trader Horn has these stores: Greater Butler Mart in Butler Township, Butler South in Penn Township, Clairon on Route 322, Eau Claire on Route 38, Christy Plaza in Ellwood City, Route 58 in Grove City, Oakland Avenue in Indiana, Route 422 in Kittanning, Route 422 in Prospect and East Blaizer Drive in Wexford.