Guilford's history has been celebrated all year long as the town's 375th birthday has been saluted. A big part of the history, two businesses that sit right next to each other smack in the middle of downtown, are also celebrating a significant milestone.

Frank's Package Store and Page Hardware & Appliance Co., both established in 1939, are celebrating their 75th anniversary.

Page's is a multi-generation, family owned hardware, housewares, and appliance store located on the historic Green in Guilford. The store is now run by Andrew Page, 45, who likes to say the store's success "is not based solely on people named Page. We've had a lot of Pages work here, but we've also had a lot of great help along the way."

Next door is Frank's, also multi-generational. Frank Ifkovic's dad started the business 75 years ago. Frank Ifkovic has worked at the store for 42 years.

Both Andrew Page and Ifkovic said the 75 years in business is special for one reason-Guilford.

"Guilford is a wonderful town," said Ifkovic. "The people are real nice. Talk to anyone who owns a business in Guilford, and you'll hear the same thing-there is no place better to be. Our customers are our friends."

Page echoes Ifkovic's thoughts.

"We have a very strong, loyal customer base," said Page. "While we have customers from many, many towns, Guilford is special. It is such a cool town. It has everything from farms to upscale restaurants."

There is also a special bond between the two stores, as is evident when watching the good-natured banter Page and Ifkovic enjoy with each other.

That rapport is due, in part, to both of them growing up in the business. Page said he started "sweeping floors" when he was a kid, and Ifkovic said he did the same when his dad ran the store back in the day.

Ifkovic has a willing and able partner in David Boeding, who has worked at the wine shop for the best of 25 years. Ifkovic said there is already a succession plan in place.

"I'm planning to step aside in a few years," said Ifkovic, and "David will step in and take over the store."

Both Page and Ifkovic have seen a lot of changes in their decades in business.

Ifkovic said when he started, "We had about 10 different wines in the store. Now we have thousands."

He added the toughest misperception his and other liquor stores face is "beating back the sense that the big-box liquor stores have better prices than the mom and pop stores. That isn't the case."

And Page said he, too, has seen his share of change in his years at Page's.

"A couple things stand out," said Page. "The economic collapse of 2007 really hurt us and a lot of other businesses. Times were tough back then."

The other big change he's lived through, said Page, "is how the Internet has reshaped our business. These days you have to make sure you are being seen by your customers through a variety of different avenues."