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Deal’s Small Engine gets new owners as business is sold

  • Slade Smiddy, the new manager of Deal’s Small Engine in Clinton, stands in the store, which his family bought as of Oct. 1. - G. Chambers Williams III

  • Deal’s Small Engine on North Main Street is now under new management since the Smiddy family bought the business as of Oct. 1. It has been in business for the past 34 years. - G. Chambers Williams III

Deal’s Small Engine and Distributing Co., a longtime downtown Clinton business on North Main Street, has new owners.

The Smiddy family, which owns and operates the Exit 122 Outdoor Power Equipment Store on Andersonville Highway, purchased Deal’s from Barbara Deal on Oct. 1, said Slade Smiddy, who will be the store’s new manager. He is the son of Exit 122 founders Ed and Trena Smiddy

“We’re keeping everything exactly as it was,” Slade Smiddy said this week. “We are continuing as Hustler and Stihl dealers, and we’re also keeping the [adjacent] parts warehouse.”

Deal’s. at 450 and 476 N. Main St., has been in business 34 years, Smiddy said. Its products are primarily lawn and garden care equipment and supplies, including mowers.

There were 10 employees when the Smiddys bought the business, and “We’re retaining all of them,” Smiddy said.

“I want to thank everybody for continuing to support us,” said Smiddy, who has been working in the field for the past 13 years.

Hours of operation for Deal’s will continue to be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, he said.

Exit 122 Outdoor Power Equipment was founded by the Smiddys in 1994, and continues to sell Cub Cadet mowers and Mahindra tractors, according to its website. Its address is 2520 Andersonville Highway.

The family also owns and operates Quality Lawn Sales and Service at 219 Indian Mound Circle in Jacksboro.