About Us

Randy and Melony “gave birth” to Ram-Z Exchange in October 1988 on Elmwood Avenue in Lafayette, Indiana as a jewelry store that also sold some antiques, collectibles, coins and firearms. The doors opened to a new adventure Thanksgiving weekend.

There have been many joys, experiences, encounters and trials. After about a year, lightning struck our building taking out phones and neon signs. When the police called October 18, 1990 at 2:30 a.m., we were told that the strip mall that housed our business and four others was on fire because of a strong lightning and wind storm. We took a real loss but set up elsewhere for three months, while the building was being reconstructed. When we moved back in we added more space to our current store. But lightning struck yet another time bringing to a halt everything electrical.

The railroad relocation kept customers away because of road closings. Then there was the day before Thanksgiving that five houses blew up from gas line leak just a block away and shut the neighborhood down including Ram-Z Exchange causing loss of income on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. Through it all we never felt alone and always felt God's presence and leading.

Like the energizer bunny, we "just kept going" and getting bigger and better. As every year went by we became more and more crowded for both customers and employees so we took over each suite until we had acquired every foot of the strip mall. Until one day, Melony spotted a beautiful building for sale on Farabee Drive, formally called the Hope Thrift Center. She couldn't get it out of her mind and told Randy about it, but he just dismissed it. "No way could we move our business" he said. The idea of moving just seemed to make sense to Melony so after she went to see it she shared it with their three children who also worked for the business. They gave some positive input and eventually talked Randy into investigating it.

Mum was the word for a long time, as phone calls came in and went out concerning offers on the building and getting the loan, etc., in case it didn't work out. What fun it was to tell the employees the exciting news, closing date was set for Randy's birthday, July 24, 2007 and Melony planned a surprise party for Randy to celebrate both events.

Friends and customers helped the family prepare the building for use. Randy and Melony’s children were AWESOME. They worked so hard, sending their parents home to rest, as they completed preparing for opening day, October 8, 2007 and the Grand opening followed on November 7th. December brought recognition by the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Committee and they received the Small Business of the Month award. In March 2008 they hosted a Chamber Business After Hours reception receiving compliments as the most and the best food ever.

Melony’s mother died due to complications from a by-pass surgery in December 1999, so in January 2000 when Randy said his chest was hurting and was out of breath, Melony sent him directly to the doctor who then sent him directly to the hospital. Randy had a successful triple by-pass, but missed six weeks of work. Their children, Chad, Corey & Amanda jumped in and took control managing well in his absence. The kindness, care and compassion that Randy and Melony and their family have given to their customers, employees, church and community always comes back to them triple-fold.

In January 2007, three young men were found cutting a hole in the roof of the building to break in and steal merchandise. Ramseys were informed of the court hearings. Melony went to the hearing and when she was introduced to the Prosecuting Attorney she asked, “What does that mean?” She was told, “He is on your side and will prosecute to the degree of the law.” Melony’s reply was, “Well, I’m on his side and I want to see if we can help him” referring to one of the young men being prosecuted. Melony had written a letter to the court stating her concern for the young men’s lives and the direction they were going and wondered if there was anything they could do to help them. It was her opinion that if they were made to meet and help those they had offended and saw that there was forgiveness that it might somehow help them turn their lives around. The judge was astounded that any person who had a crime committed against them in this way would reach out to their offender. Melony’s mother was a mentor for a program called VORP which brought offender and the offended persons together to resolve the problem. Melony’s request that each boy be required to work for the Ramseys, unpaid, and they were assigned yard work, garbage collection, sweeping, etc. until they had fulfilled some of their community service hours.