REEDSVILLE - The former president of a truck building company decided to change the pace of his life, take it easy and combine his passion for fitness, knowledge of mechanical work and his wife's love of consignment shopping into a business.
Dan and LouAnn Perlman, Lake Wynonah, own The Big Catch, a plaza that houses a 24-hour fitness center, thrift shop and cafe, and a 24-hour heating, ventilation and air conditioning business. The business is located at 614 Route 183 South in Schuylkill Haven.
Perlman was the president of a Reading-based company, Reading Truck Body Manufacturing, that makes work trucks for commercial businesses.
"I worked there for 30 years," Perlman, 59, said.
Perlman stayed on as president until the end of 2009. Originally, he started as an automation engineer designing robots before moving to vice president of manufacturing and then president.
"I just wanted to do something different, totally different. I just wanted to get out of the trucking industry and do something different - something that was our own," he said Wednesday.
The three businesses they own are the Flex 24 HR Fitness, The Big Catch and Catch Cafe, and Flex Mechanical.
He said sometimes when people see The Big Catch Plaza they think it has to do with seafood, but the name was selected because it sounded neat.
The center opened in May 2012, with the thrift store and the HVAC business opening in August 2012.
The cafe serves salads, breakfast, sandwiches, soups, bakery items, bagels, ice cream, hot and cold drinks and smoothies.
The fitness center has 16 pieces of exercise equipment including treadmills, a leg press and weight benches. Cameras monitor the site 24 hours and there are 911 emergency panic buttons.
"We've never had any incidents at all," Perlman said.
The fitness center costs $25 a month and a contract is not required.
Shoppers were inside the cafe and thrift store Wednesday enjoying lunch and trying to find their own haul.
Lisa Silipena found what her fiance, Shane O'Brien, wanted - an ashtray. The small, ceramic pottery bowl cost her $1.06.
"I was surprised I only spent a dollar on it," she said.
The New Jersey native, now staying in the county, said there was a lot to pick from at the store. "I pretty much enjoyed looking at everything," she said.
Christy McGowan, Port Carbon, also found a great buy. She bought a wicker basket with a lid for $5.
"I love it," she said.
It will be used to store dog toys for her miniature schnauzer, Sweetie Pie.
Chris McNally, Strausstown, bought a lamp for his living room for $25.
Books, furniture, household appliances, DVDs, toys, dishes, birdhouses and records are some of the items for sale at the store.
Perlman said he buys items from people but also pays on consignment.
Crafters who come to the store get 60 percent of the sale and the store gets the rest, he said.
He said he believes in supporting local artists who create things.
"We have over 40 local artists and crafters that make things," Perlman said.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The store is closed Sunday and Monday.