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3rd Generation Baltimore Business Celebrates 100th Anniversary

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's a third-generation Baltimore business and now it's celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Ron Matz has more on what's lured thousands of people to a fishing store in Fells Point.

Tony Tochterman is always glad to help. It's the hallmark of Tochterman's, the fishing tackle store. It was opened by Tony's grandfather in February of 1916.

"On February 8, 1965, my granddad decided, `You know what? We're going to make some money, we're going to open up as a bait shop.' It opened up primarily as a hardware store that had a little department for fishing tackle. He saw something; he was a visionary, way ahead of his time," Tony Tochterman said.

There's fishing gear everywhere, reels and bait, tackles and more---anything a fisherman needs.

"The guy that wants to fish the harbor, the guy who wants to fish Loch Raven, the guy who wants to go to Belize or Alaska---that's our job to help them. All we sell is fishing tackle 12 months a year," Tochterman said.

Tony and his wife Dee always make their customers feel at home.

"We meet happy, happy people. Everybody enjoys coming in the door. That's what's so nice about it," Dee Tochterman said.

The iconic Tochterman sign on Eastern Avenue has been part of Baltimore since 1938.

"We're real proud of our sign; it's become our new logo. It's been around since 1938, done by the Belsinger Neon Sign Company. They did a great job and now it's a Maryland historical landmark," Tony said.

And while reflecting on their glorious past, Tochterman's celebrates 100: an angler's paradise looking to the future.

"It's exhilarating; it's very emotional and really exciting. It's also I guess you could say a relief. We made to 100 years; I promised my dad we would make it," Tony said. "We have no plans to retire. With the excitement the public has brought to us, we have found that we're more excited for our 100th year to go further. The people have made it too exciting for us, so we're going to continue for another hundred years."

Some of the famous customers who have shopped at Tochterman's include former baseball great Ted Williams, former mayor and governor William Donald Schaefer and Orioles great Boog Powell.

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