T&H Sweeper Has Kept Muncie Clean for 60 Years
Photographer / Ethan Snyder
When you walk into T&H Sweeper on Walnut Street, you’re stepping into more than a vacuum store — you’re stepping into a Muncie legacy. For 60 years, the Hickey family has built a business rooted in service, hard work and the belief that community matters.
The company’s story begins in 1965, when founder Bob Hickey opened the first shop at 626 S. Walnut St. Before the sound of vacuums filled the space, it was home to an ice cream store in the front and an auto body shop in the back. The building sat among a row of garage-style storefronts that once functioned like a miniature strip mall.
“My grandfather used to stand outside and watch the trains go by,” recalls Tamra Hickey-Conatser. “Sometimes he’d see train cars carrying the Barnum and Bailey circus animals.”
Over the decades, T&H Sweeper expanded its reach and its reputation. In 1992, Bob’s son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Kathy Hickey, took over operations and shepherded in the company’s next era of growth. That same year, they opened a second location at 704 W. McGalliard Road, a move that changed everything. With steady retail traffic and maximum visibility, the store quickly became a hub for new customers seeking reliable equipment and maintenance support.
Today, the business spans four stores: two in Muncie, one in Westfield and another in Anderson. Family and friends remain at the center. Multiple generations have clocked hours across the various locations, including Tamra, her brothers, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and many close friends.
As consumer habits change, T&H Sweeper continues adapting.
“Your grandma might have had her refrigerator or vacuum for 25 or 30 years,” Tamra says. “Now, companies make cheaper versions that might last only three.”
She sees that shift as a call to help customers invest smarter.
The company carries everything from budget-friendly cleaners to premium brands like Sebo and Riccar — machines built to last.
“We match online prices, and if it breaks, we fix it,” she says. “Even if it’s a $100 vacuum, buy locally. We’re building a long-term relationship, and you can trade up over time.”
That philosophy doesn’t just save money — it keeps machines out of landfills and protects your flooring investment.
In 2024, the business added a new dimension: commercial janitorial supplies. Today, T&H Sweeper delivers everyday essentials — including janitorial supplies, trash bags, paper towels, toilet paper and cleaning chemicals — directly to local businesses. It’s a natural extension of their mission to keep spaces clean and customers supported.
Still, there’s heart in everything they do. Tamra can often be found with her two young children at her side, absorbing the rhythms of a family enterprise built long before them. Whether they will join the legacy someday remains to be seen.
“I don’t know what the next generation will bring for small business,” she admits. “But we feel blessed. Muncie has always supported us.”
After six decades, T&H Sweeper continues to sweep forward — powered by family, fueled by community and committed to keeping Muncie clean for generations to come.
