Drove 2 miles to my local yard for some poplar, grk screws and some trim.
Sign out front that usually displays specials says Thanks for your Business, this yard closing Friday-call Genoa or Bowling Green for deliveries………………
That’s it for convenience and a smile. Now I drive and deal with new folks-the reparte’ of years of business and favors will have to be rekindled.
Gordon is a small local chain-4-5 counties. Nearest is now 19 mi’s away. For some of you that’s a short jaunt. For me who’s been spoiled since I started 37 years ago, it’s another roadblock. Something opened up, need some framing material quick? can’t send my guy-as there isn’t one. Bum deal Camille.
Some of the guys will be placed at their other yards-a hardship for sure for those that lived close to this yard. I feel bad for that and for the friendships that grew over the years. These will fade over time I suppose as we won’t see each other regularly.
Over the years I’ve seen many area local business’s close for one reason or another. It’s hurt my feelings and my wallet many times. It’s progress I suppose, but I’ve come to learn that not all progress is good.
Anyway just wanted to let the world know that tomorrow I lose another close friend and partner in my miniscule business and life.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Replies
Bummer man...
Another on bites the dust. What now?...Make the drive up to Wayne?
Scary when you sit and think of all the yards that used to be around the GTMA - all but a few gone.
Wayne, Rentner, S & S ( not aroung for long ), Gladieux ( wouldn't go in there if they were givin' away free hookers), most of the Carters are worthless at this point...
Gettin tougher every day...
I get a kick out of it when they say they'll deliver out of another store. That's all well and good for a house package, but for you and I who are generally grabbin' a couple of armfuls of sticks it don't work out very well. 'Specially when gas goes up again and they bump delivery charges.
I actually find myself keeping stuff in stock around here lately...
Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
i'm with you, calvin
i'm looking for square deal and people who know me
about 15 years ago, i decided to pick a full service lumber yard and give them all the business i couldlooks like they might still be a survivorMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike,
To those that think price and "selection" are everything, I hope they love it when there's no more alternatives left.
I don't care if they're gruff, moody, a bit higher etc, the local yard is how I started and dammit-it's just the only way I know. Push a cart down an aisle and bang your head on a shelf? Yeah right.
I've seen several family owned places fold up shop and it's just like losing a close friend. You do make it through it, but it sure hurts for a while.
At any rate, raise your glass tomorrow at 4, the doors close on another fine business.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Jeff,
You hit it right there. No sticks easily procured.
I did hear that S&S was bought by a "builder". Intentions are to keep it open. We'll see. They had a decent trim selection. Also liked the old style dimly lit "showroom" and storage areas. When you got it out in the daylight, no telling what it looked like.
I'm stopping out to Gordon tomorrow at closing time with some libations to drown the demise.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Maybe they'll give you some donations for the crazy legs fest?
"Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." - St. Francis of Assisi
No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president. I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day. And I pray that he makes wise decisions.
I grabbed up some GRK screws, poplar and a few other items for stock because of convenience. They never had any tools to speak of. You know I'm like a vulture for donations, but in this case that might be equivalent to the funeral director grabbing gramma's ring.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Cal - that sucks.
I do a lot of business at Lowe's, but my lumber mostly comes from a local yard. I've traded there for 30+ years and I don't know where I'd go if they closed up.
About 5 years ago, the owner died suddenly. A core group of employees got a loan and bought the widow out. I figured that would be the demise of the place, but they got lean where they needed to and expanded where they needed to and kept doing what they always did best - serving their customers.
They seem to be prospering, but they hooked their wagon to the guys who do remodeling/restoration instead of the new home crowd.
Not sure why I told that story other than I was worried when the owner died that I'd be in your position. I feel for ya, man.http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
Grant, thanks for the understanding.
I don't buy 50,000.00 worth of material from them, but the treatment was as if I had. My order was important. If I didn't hear back about something I could call and still talk to the guy that I dealt with in the first place. This is priceless in my business. The having an account with the ability to charge is important, but I suppose I could live with a CC type of purchase................that is until I went through several different jobs worth of rcpts and couldn't figure out what the hell that was on the cc stmt and actually what the rcpt meant.
With Gordon and most other suppliers there's a copy of the invoice with prices, dates etc. Easy to figure what job that came from.
A for instance on the service. I needed a special order crown mld. Not a small order, 3-4 good sized rooms.....maybe 300 ft. It came from a wholesaler that had cut back on the old style-delivery once a wk...........this was during the gas price rise. Well, after a cpl wks of waiting and no pooled deliveries to this area I'm getting panicky because I'm doing the job while the homo's are on vacation. They upped there order getting way more than that 300 ft so it would warrent a delivery from the wholesaler. Jeez, big box do that? Fat chance.
I'm a rotten spoiled brat and I'm going kicking and screaming.
Sorry.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Calvin--Sounds like what happened to Hugh M Woods years ago. All I had to do was drive into the yard, load my lumber once, guy at the shack confirmed it and I was into the Contractor's Desk. (I sneered at the grocery carts they put out for DIY's).Then it was a Lowes (actually an Eagle) and they had a big selection of fasteners, SS, etc. When Lowes took Eagle over the fastener selection was trashed.So reluctantly I went to HD. Half the time things that went together were stored aisles apart. Pipe fittings next to pipe--no. Conduit next to J-boxes?--no. If I finally found something and pushed it in a wheel clattering cart to the front--it was self check out. After giving the cart a shove back up an aisle with my foot (in disgust) I usually said in a VERY LOUD voice--"When you figure out retailing let me know, I'm surprised you just don't leave a key for me!"So I found a small lumberyard, guys that might even have built something not just stocked it and, hold on, they would run out to the yard, fire up a forklift and say pick out what you want and put it on the forks, then we will load it on your truck! Where have you guys been? There all the time--just small street frontage and a big yard hidden behind!Ahhhhh, I found a home again. They tell good (not PC) jokes too! Tyr
Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden.... Roman Poet Phaedrus 15BC–50AD
Your story is reminding me of one my dad often told, same neck of the woods even. Year was 1951, Dad and Mom had bought a lot on Marblehead peninsula.
Lakeside Lumber (?) right outside of Lakeside on the peninsula.
Dad went in in the late fall, gave the owner $1500 (If Memory Serves), told him he was building a place for himself and here is a copy of the plans. Told the owner invest the money in good buys for Dad if he would please and Dad would get his entire package from him . Told him he would be back in the late spring to start construction. Owner did as Dad asked and even invested the not yet used money a bit and gave dad the interest it earned back in lumber.Old Time Yards.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Bryan Klakamp emailed me just now that the same happened to the Gordon yard in Findlay-they close tomorrow also.
I'm guessing he and I didn't buy enough.
bummer.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Yep, Cal is right. We didn't buy ehough from them.
This afternoon I went in to get a couple of oak boards. Just walked into the warehouse, picked out what I wanted, set it aside, and walked in to tell them what I picked out. No problem!
Then, they tell me the bad news. What a bummer. It is like losing a good friend.
I always liked driving up to the pile of lumber, and loading it, either by myself or with Jerry's help.
Like Cal said, everyone has a spot at another yard, if they are willing to travel. The salesman will still be in town, working out of his home. Still, can't go get a few sticks of wood anytime I want.
How I dread going to Lowe's to get a few pieces of lumber. Menards? Hardly! That's worse yet.
Maybe if the economy picks up they will open the store back up. I am probably dreaming.
Oh well.
Bryan"Objects in mirror appear closer than they are."
Klakamp Construction, Findlay, Ohio - just south of the Glass City
I did ask the mgr about the potential of reopening. It could happen if they hang onto the property.
One can hope.
So, called Wayne on the Trail towards downtown and talked to a familiar face there. Looks like I'll be filling out yet another credit ap.
Hopefully a human being from their yard will to the check and quickly figger out I'm worth the chance.
My first yard account in 72 all it took was a positive reply to the owners question: Will you pay on time?
Now that's a credit ap.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
all it took was a positive reply to the owners question: Will you pay on time?
I think mine was "You've been coming in here a couple of times a week for a couple of years. It'd be easier on both of us if you just wrote us one check a month. What's your address?"http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
In the past couple yrs a couple longtime suppliers have sold to another concern. New operators request (demand) another credit ap when even the bookkeeper is kept on.
Just a formality you know.
Just damn dumb business practice...
you know.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Sorry to hear about the Gordon yards in Maumee and Findlay, I remember going to their yard in Oak Harbor when I was a whole lot younger. Up here in the boonies of NW Mich. the only yard in Charlevoix closed as did the only yard in East Jordan, leaving builders a 17 mile trip to the nearest yard. Bummer!
There is a little mom and pop type place in McComb, which is about 15 minutes from home.
Problem is, it's not located conveniently near me. I did order a lumber package from them once when I did an addition to a house there in McComb.
Maybe I'll look into using them some."Objects in mirror appear closer than they are."
Klakamp Construction, Findlay, Ohio - just south of the Glass City
Keep 'em up and running Bryan.
That or push the shopping cart.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Bryan, worse than I thought. 160 employees down to 85 or so.
Closed 4 yards in the last month. The concrete operation done. Lindsey and I believe Oak Harbor closed.
A real pisser. Doubt Maumee will return even with a building boom.........A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Lindsey and Oak Harbor closed last year, I'm thinking it was in September.
Mac, the manager at Findlay, said that a lot of the contractors that shopped in Oak Harbor would stop there in the morning to pick up a few things before they went to Port Clinton to work on their projects. The Port Clinton store is still open.
He said that it was a difficult decision for the old timers of Gordon since that was their first store.
The Oak Harbor store is currently being rented by Jehovah's Witnesses as a temporary kingdom hall. Mac said that they have really cleaned it up and improved it nicely by repairing and painting the inside. We will be building a new kingdom hall this summer in Oak Harbor.
After they move out, I would assume that it will be for sale. You could buy the building and start a lumber yard, Cal!"Objects in mirror appear closer than they are."
Klakamp Construction, Findlay, Ohio - just south of the Glass City
Yeah, me and a lumberyard.
Nah, couldn't take the bull #### ters that come in.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
cal, sorry man, we've got one left, and it's like Cheers where everybody knows your name... and gives you #### when you walk in the door<G>No deals, but they ask if you want that order this morning or in the afternoon... rather that the week later Lowe's Contractor Yard might get the right stuff there.You might want to take more than a six pack on Friday<G>http://www.tvwsolar.com
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
Definitely more than 6.
Here's a good one. Often catch the Lowes truck in there. Picking up Long lengths they don't stock.
Two guys in the Lowes truck.
ha ha ha.
The joke is, look who's going out. Not the two in a truck, see you in a week, huh's?..............nope, my yard.
#### me.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
True, very true.
"Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." - St. Francis of Assisi
No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president. I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day. And I pray that he makes wise decisions.
Don't tell Rez if they're having a closing clearance sale.
jt8
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on."
-- Robert Frost
When I did a 2000 square foot addition in Catawba about 15 years ago, I got everything from the Gordon Lumber in Port Clinton. Sad to see another one go by the wayside.
"Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." - St. Francis of Assisi
No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president. I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day. And I pray that he makes wise decisions.
Steve, the rest of the Gordon chain are surviving. This one here had all the toledo new construction pkgs. That was fine when they were bldg, but that big dent was all it took. I've heard fairly reliably that it was a bank induced decision. They use lines of credit quite a bit. So, for the lines extended the bank deduced there were too many yards. Eventho all locations are owned, its the lines of credit that drive the business part. So, whether it was a direct edict (or else) or not I don't know. But the one to suffer was the slowest business.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
any updates on your addittion coming soon?
I've got a service orientated lumber yard about ONE mile from my project house. Pretty handy. I do as much business with them as i can. But I have to admit that Lowes and Menards still gets a good chunk of my $$. Their longer hours and larger selection is the Siren's song luring me into temptation.
jt8
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on."
-- Robert Frost
Sorry to hear about your yard closing.
Like you, I'm fairly small potaoes as far as volume goes at my yard. But I get treated very well there. I've been going there since I was a kid.
I'd hate it if they closed. But luckily, there's a couple of other "real" yards not too far away.
You ever hear of Neice Lumber in Lambertville? I go there a lot. Also Hamilton Supply in Hamilton is that way. Those are the only two like that around me.
I've heard of them, never been there.
Up where I'm moving, there's a Kuikens Bros. yard about 10-15 miles away. I'll probably open an account there. They have a bunch of yards.
The other one I sometimes go to is Jaeger Lumber. I know several of the guys who work on the Middlesex yard, just down the road where we've had the Lunchfest. Jaeger has 4-5 yards, I think. The Madison location has a pretty large selection of hardwoods and cabinet ply.
View Image
http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
Yessir, that boy is one weird dude.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
just a poor boy in search of a carpenter's dream...http://www.tvwsolar.com
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
Remembering from my yute.
I think that's all the poor boy has been blessed with.
Truly a pity.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Hey, ya gotta count your blessings, even if it's only one<G>http://www.tvwsolar.com
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"