04/19/2004
In 1935, Calvin Reter's father, William, left his job as a salesman selling bread and cakes door-to-door and purchased a general store in Owins Mills. In 1945, he purchased another general store in Glyndon. Over the years, the business changed, and in 1949 the general store, which sold everything from plow shares to hardware to groceries and meat, was remodeled into a food market. It continued as a food market until 1988, when it was remodeled again into a crab house, selling steamed crabs, live crabs, soft crabs, steamed or raw shrimp and fish. All the while, the business stayed in the family.Calvin bought the business from his father when he retired in 1967, and his son Brad bought it with his wife Kathy upon Calvin's retirement six years ago and moved the crab house to Reisterstown.
"My kids worked there from about the time they could walk. Now I'm their representative," says Reter, who still helps out around the Crab House whenever he's needed.
The business has weathered a lot of changes over the years. When Reter took the reins, it was a food market and crab house, selling steamed crabs and shrimp. Brad and Kathy kept the crab house and added a restaurant, as well as additional operating hours.
"The motivation for the changes is the need to increase sales and increase the bottom line," Reter notes. "Competition is the biggest challenge, having to adjust to the big boys coming in."
Increased government regulation of business and the rising costs associated with that regulation also tax the ability of business owners like the Reters to sustain their businesses. That's why Reter joined NFIB, and it's what spurred him to get involved with other community organizations.
Over the years, his NFIB membership lapsed, but Reter encouraged Brad and Kathy to rejoin after attending a local NFIB meeting with a friend a couple years ago.
"I liked what I heard, and I've been promoting NFIB in the local community ever since," says Reter.
"I think the lobbying effort on both the state and federal levels is something the small business person needs, especially in Maryland," he continues. "We've never had powers in the local or state government supporting the business person."
Recent activity in the state house suggests the tide may be turning, however. Reter notes that last year the governor vetoed a bill opposed by NFIB but passed by the legislature that would impose increased costs on small businesses, including HMO taxes; he's hopeful the bill will meet a veto again this year.
Regulatory challenges notwithstanding, Reter wouldn't trade anything for the opportunity to be his own boss.
"It's the satisfaction of knowing it's ours," he says. "The work has to be done, you have to be ready for the customer, and that involves a lot more hours than those spent serving the public -- there's paperwork, balancing registers, ordering supplies and other chores."
But running a business gave him an opportunity to meet a lot of people and to get involved with his community.
"The fact is that you and your family are providing a service to the community, and the community shows its appreciation by continuing to patronize your business," Reter says. "If you're a community-oriented person, you want to make your community a better place to live. You want to make a difference."
