Grapentin Specialties was born in 1983 when Jeff Grapentin purchased his first sinker mold from Jack Biewer to make fishing sinkers for R&R's Sporting Goods, Pat Creger, his mother-in-law's store, in Almont, Michigan.

His dad Wilfred L. Grapentin told him that his uncle Harold had operated his own fishing tackle business "Halken Specialties" located in Roseville, Michigan.

He and his wife, Del, manufactured fishing sinkers and leaders for area stores.  When his uncle Harold moved, he gave Jeff his fishing sinker molds.

Jeff began to make sinkers.  Then he went on the road to sell what he had made.  He had gone to several stores with no luck.  Ready to give up and forget it all, Jeff said to God "If I don't sell to the next store, I'm done!".  He went into KK Party Store in Harrison Township and made his first sale.  That year, his total sales were $500.00.  Then in 1984 Grapentin Specialties was established.  Jeff then informed Diane she was to quit her current job at R&R's Sporting Goods and be his salesperson.  Diane laughed "No way!" "I'm not selling sinkers!"  Diane is now in charge of day-to-day operations at Grapentin.

Grapentin Specialties began in a one car garage in Almont.  Doing sales out of the trunk of a Chevy Caprice, with her three sons (Joshua, Jonathon and Andrew) the sales began.