According to Jeff Pastore his dad, John, is the family’s idea guy. 

John, in his early 70s, is the surviving founder of both businesses whose history and longevity is an interesting mix of tenacity and good business sense. Jeff, eldest of John’s sons, operates Hartville RV, located at 540 S Prospect. He has a deep appreciation for his dad’s ideas that created the unique pairing of RV dealership and dry cleaner and enjoys shares their story.

John Pastore graduated from Hartville High in 1955. Shortly thereafter, he opened a barber shop in Hartville while in the National Guard. During the 1960s – a decade whose legacies include long hair—business decreased, but that didn’t dissuade John.

He opened a coin-operated laundry and soon added a dry cleaner to diversify his business interests. Pastore’s Cleaners was born. When machine-washable polyester was invented, it hurt the dry cleaning business. That didn’t dissuade John either. He kept the laundry/dry cleaner open. Still rife with business ideas, he carefully pondered his next venture.

John and his young family, including wife, Nancy and five sons, loved camping. Renting a camper made vacationing with a large family affordable. In 1971, John opened Hartville RV to rent affordable pop-up campers to vacationers who would predictably  enjoy the same pastime.

“Dad’s philosophy is that a family only has about 15 summers together,” says Jeff. “If you think about it that way, each vacation is special,” he mused. Within several years John quit barbering and was selling RV’s. In 1994 he was named Businessman of the Year in Lake Township.

Under Jeff’s leadership, Hartville RV continues to thrive.

“People may think that because of gas prices our business might suffer,” stated Jeff.
But quite the opposite is true. “2008 has been our best year thus far,” he said.

Since 9/11 people have re-evaluated their priorities spending more family time together. Because RVing is a “green” activity, people are attracted to it. According to Jeff the RV industry has also done a good job of promoting RVing as a way to better access hobbies such as biking, kayaking, motorcycling and even antiquing. 

“Some of our towable units have an extended area to haul bikes or kayaks or bring home treasured antiques,” said Pastore.  

Jeff quickly points to his staff as a reason for the dealership’s high achievement. “We have 15 amazing people and we are a team,” said Pastore.

Jeff is the current chairman of the board of the National RV Dealer’s Association. He has an office in Washington D.C. and travels the U.S. and Canada in his role as spokesperson for the industry. His work as chairman involves talking with industry leaders, the federal government and the media to ensure a business climate that will help dealerships flourish. Before his role as board chairman he was a member of a management group that reviewed the personnel and financial policies of dealerships around the country and made recommendations to them. He has a voracious appetite for learning and improving business practices.

  In 2000, Hartville RV was chosen by RV Business Magazine as one of 10 dealerships in the country that should be emulated. “We don’t have a unique business philosophy,” statef Jeff, “but we have had a lifetime of success by doing business according to the golden rule.”