DOWAGIAC — A longtime Dowagiac family business may be changing hands, but it will continue to provide the same level of service it has given the community for the past 25 years, according to its owners.

D&R Sports, 238 S. Front St., Dowagiac, has recently come under new ownership. Currently owned by Randy and Kathy Melvin, Cory Wright and Tanner Melvin, Randy’s son, are taking over the business. Randy and Kathy have owned the screen printing and embroidering business since 1994. Randy said he would stay on until the fall to ensure a smooth transition.

“This business started with Kathy’s father. He’s the ‘D,’ and I’m the ‘R,’ and now we are passing this on to my son and [Wright], who is related on my father-in-law’s side,” Randy said. “We are keeping this in the family.”

Both Tanner and Wright said they were excited to be able to keep D&R Sports operating in downtown Dowagiac.

“I didn’t want to see this go away,” Tanner said of why he decided to become an owner. “I’ve grown up here. I definitely did not want to see the name go away.”

“We are excited to continue what we have been doing and to grow,” Wright added. “[Randy] has left us with a great start, and we are looking to see where we can go from here.”

Having been a downtown business for 25 years, Randy said he believes that customer service and quality products have led to the D&R Sports’ longevity in Dowagiac.

“We do just about anything you can think of — screen printing, embroidery, custom logos, you name it,” Randy said. “We’ve always had a very high quality of product and a dedication to the community.

Now, Tanner and Wright said they want to continue to provide the same level of quality and customer service as they take over the business.

“D&R Sports has been a pillar in the community, and I know that it has done a lot for the schools and the school system,” Wright said. “We want to continue that legacy of being a part of the community. We are not going anywhere. We want to do business as usual, the same way they have been doing for 25 years.”

“Everything I learned here was from my father and my brother,” Tanner added. “We are just trying to keep that going and keep the quality of product that they put out before me.”

As Randy prepares for retirement, he said he has full faith that Wright and Tanner will operate D&R Sports well and will ensure that the business continues to be a valuable part of the Dowagiac community.

“I think the boys are ready to jump in and make this thing grow,” Randy said. “They will continue to take care of the communities and sports teams all around the area as much as we can.”