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Thirty Warm Winters Thanks to One Local Business
By Tracy Rolling
 | | Tammy Hall helps Pott Belly Shop customer Douglas Darnell load pellets into Darnell's vehicle.
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Heating the hearts and homes of Ramona for 30 years now, the Pott Belly Shop has steadily become an icon to the community.
Owners Dennis and Toni Scull can't believe how quickly the time has passed since they opened their business on April 1, 1978.
"Thirty years ago, just about every business in Ramona was named after the town. We wanted something different, and because the most popular heating source back then were the little pot belly stoves, we decided to add a 't,' and thus the name was created," shares Toni.
"The business is family owned and operated," says Dee Becker, oldest daughter of the Sculls, who recalls hanging out at the shop after school when she was growing up.
Today, there are three generations working at the store, installing, selling, managing and sweeping the chimneys for residents of Ramona and the backcountry.
The Sculls' second daughter, Tammy Hall, is the store manager, while their son, Ron Scull, and grandson, Jeffrey Sparks, work as chimney technicians.
 | | Pictured from left, Toni Scull, Tammy Hall and Dee Becker relax in front of a gas fireplace displayed in the showroom.
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"The biggest change over the past 30 years is that people nowadays have a variety of heating options, and the little pot bellies are no longer being sold," says Becker. "It's not because people don't want them, it's because they don't comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)."
Becker shares that all of their stoves and inserts are EPA-approved. In addition to selling wood, gas and pellet stoves, the store has been sweeping chimneys and performing repairs, well, for 30 years!
"We recommend cleaning over the summer," says Hall, who adds, "There is no rain or snow to contend with, and you know your chimney will be good for a full season."
Showcased in the shop are about six-dozen fireplaces, varying in size, shape, color and price. Included in the selection process are thousands of frames, faces, and mantels to choose from, along with an abundance of accessories.
 | | Shown from left are Pott Belly Shop owner Dennis Scull, installer Jeff Sparks, receptionist Stephanie Foto, installers Ron Scull and Dave McEntee. Not pictured are installer Travis Scott and warehouse manager Josh Benke.
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You'll find equipment such as fire tool sets, screens, fire starters, and steamers - one of the newest devices on the market that pulls heat from a fireplace and adds moisture to the air.
Douglas Darnell, customer and head chef at Kountry Kitchen in Ramona, says, "We bought our pellet stove almost two years ago and we just love it."
Darnell goes on to say that it's the only heat source for his three-bedroom, 1,500-square-foot house. In addition to being cleaner and more energy efficient than central heating, he says the savings that he has experienced have been significant.
Pellet stoves burn compressed wood or biomass pellets fed through a designated area called a hopper. The hopper continually feeds fuel to the fire and creates a constant heat source, thus making the average 1,500-square-foot house warm and cozy, day and night.
The Scull family suggests that residents burn seasoned oak wood that's been cut and stacked for at least a year in wood-burning fireplaces, shutting the damper when your fireplace is not in use, and recommends that people not burn quick-start logs, as they can create a tar-like residue called creosote on the inside of your chimney.
Creosote has earned a reputation for starting chimney fires, but should not pose any threat to a properly maintained chimney.
To commemorate Pott Belly Shop's thirtieth anniversary, the shop will host an open house and serve light refreshments on Tuesday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Pott Belly Shop is located at 885 Main St. and can be reached at 760-789-4567.
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