One of Michianas favorite, family-owned tackle shops closed its doors last month after serving Goshen and outlying communities for 34 years.
Owner Ernie Bontrager and his wife Laverda decided to call it quits and retire to enjoy a more peaceful lifestyle and travel.
Anyone who has visited the Travel Tender will tell you that the Bontragers kept a good supply of lures and baits pertinent to local fishing and went the extra mile to provide good service.
Sadly, its a sign of the times when small independent retailers are going out of business. Bontrager, who turned 72 recently, weathered the storm longer than most and his business and willingness to help sportsmen enjoy their favorite pastime will be missed.