Grand Appliance was founded in 1930 by Fredrik Hjelmeland. Leaving Norway, he brought with him a tenacity for success and deep faith in family and community.

In the 1960’s Hjelmeland’s daughter, Odny Reckling, continued her father’s spirit of humanitarianism by spearheading the opening of Head Start in Lake County,IL .Head Start provided early childhood education to underprivileged children living in Waukegan, IL and other parts of Lake County, IL. Odny’s husband, Fred Reckling, was also a beacon in the community and was always willing to step up when a family was in need of an appliance.

The third generation of owners, Barb and Mark Reckling carried on the tradition of helping their community into the next decades of the 80’s 90’s and 2000’s. Barb, a social worker by training, helped in establishing the non-for-profit organization Transitional Housing. Transitional Housing was based in Waukegan, IL and it provided homeless mothers and families transitional housing and assistance to regain independent lives. Barb also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity traveling to Africa, Hungary and Nepal building homes for people. Mark and Barb Reckling were responsible in establishing the Grand Foundation in 2018 with the goal to support their local community and the communities where they owned stores throughout the Midwest. Mark was awarded the prestigious ADL American Heritage Award in 2019 for his success in living the American dream and his humanitarian efforts. In 2023, a scholarship was established in Mark’s name that is given to first generation students in his hometown, Waukegan, IL.

The commitment to helping others has now seeped down to the fourth generation of Grand Appliance family members and employees. Meagan and Anish Gauri, Jane Hood, and Aaron Reckling are dedicated to the charge of social consciousness instilled by their ancestors. Helping the community and people in need is a part of the Grand culture and in the family DNA.