Jack Rieke Gives Humboldt a Green Thumbs Up 

In 1995 Rieke saw that Shafer’s Ace Hardware in Henderson Center was on the market. He snapped it up. A shrewd move as the hardware store with a garden center means his customers can maintain their properties both inside and out with only one trip away from home. Added bonus: He got that garden center he dreamed of, finding a way through the back gate to realize his green thumb desires. Looking for a garden gnome to watch over your apian visitors? You’ll find them already in training, overlooking pollinator plants that also entice hungry hummingbirds.

Construction is a natural fit with hardware, so it is no surprise that Rieke built his business foundation with another location in Eureka, as well as one in Willow Creek and a partnership with the Ace in Fortuna. His business involved family from the first step when he bought the Henderson Center store in partnership with his mother and stepfather, RoseAnn and Vern Cooney. Rieke bought out them out 10 years later. Although they suffered the loss of Vern in 2014, RoseAnn still works in the garden center at the main store. With a solid plan of succession, the next generation is already working with their sleeves rolled up, too. Jack’s daughter Kacy Fisher keeps the books, and her spouse, Tyson, manages the Eureka Harris Street store. With the involvement of three generations, Rieke said communication is key to keep Shafer’s running smoothly. The three-in-one oil found in Aisle 14 helps with everything else.

Their dedication to Humboldt was recognized when the Riekes were named the 2023 Rhododendron Parade’s grand marshals by the Old Town Rotary Club of Eureka. They personified the “Hometown Superheroes” that maintain the underpinnings of our community. Jack Rieke’s excitement when talking about his involvement in youth sponsorships, Toys for Tots and the Boys and Girls Club is infectious. He is proud of the part Shafer’s Ace plays in raising funds for Willow Creek’s Dream Quest Teen and Youth Center by inviting customers to donate by rounding up their total purchase. The center provides music, dance, drama and art classes, along with special events and other resources needed by Humboldt’s youth. Tyson and Shafer’s got a special shout-out for building a new picnic table and raised beds for Cutten and Ridgeway schools’ greenhouse, again showing how gardening and hardware go hand in hand, or more like trowel and screwdriver.

Michele serves on the Board of Directors for North Coast Dance, supporting the ballet corps of the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts. The NCD Academy gives young artistes an opportunity to learn and perform ballet, jazz, hip hop and contemporary dance, again putting the Rieke’s dedication to youth programs into action. Shafer’s Ace also helped local law enforcement reach out to the community. What better way for the Eureka Police Department to forge neighborhood connections than through a donated barbecue grill and propane tank that feeds a lot of happy event goers? The way to our community’s heart is definitely through its stomach!

Jack and his family support nuts and bolts community projects, like the Carson Park bathrooms. Their dedication rises to meet every challenge Humboldt throws at us, helping the community mend after natural disasters like when the slippery Eel River escapes its banks or the recent December 7.0 shaker that left many of us in need of building supplies and soothing empathy. Their Facebook page encourages DIYers to post their project photos to share their triumphs. Shafer’s Ace Hardware may be where you and your new partner bought your first Christmas tree, or where you took your little ghosts to the Henderson Center Spooky Halloween Trick-or-Treat. The Reike family grew next to yours throughout it all.

It is fitting that Jack Rieke found his happy place in a family hardware store. He still absolutely loves driving the forklift past colorful bedding plants with a big grin on his face. He speaks of his grandchildren with love, proud of this next generation. When asked about his Humboldt life, Jack said, “It is an honor to be born and raised here. I love this community.” Humboldt is lucky to have Jack and the Rieke family to help us repair, maintain and beautify our homes and community. Now where’s that screwdriver? Is it Philips head?