Apr 26, 2009

Selling Ohio State stuff turned out to be one great business idea for ConradsBy Tim FeranColumbusDispatch.com

Life is full of ironies, but this may be one of the biggest: Jack Cohen, the founder of Conrads College Gifts, has never sat through an entire Ohio State football game.

“I’d go over while people were waiting to get in, but I’ve never stayed for a game,” Cohen said recently. “I have to rush back to the store. It’s always work, work.”

Indeed, at 85, as he celebrates 60 years as a businessman and 40 years as owner of the fabled specialty gift shop on the OSU campus, Cohen shows no sign of retiring or slowing down — or ever actually sitting through a game in the ‘Shoe.

He still goes to work five or six days a week, still packs a lunch so that he won’t be distracted from business, and still enjoys meeting all members of Buckeye Nation who wander in, from nameless fans to legendary head coaches.

Cohen’s dedication to the shop and to the fans leaves many in awe, including Eric Miller, a sales representative who provides sportswear, golf apparel and other lines of merchandise to the store.

“He’s made a lot of friends over the years,” Miller said. “Sometimes I just go in to sit and talk, not necessarily because I have an order. They’re fun people to talk to. I’ve worked just about every game day for about 10 years, and Jack is always right up there at the front of the store, greeting customers. They come back every year just to say hi to him.”

Read complete article.