Longtime Chehalis hardware store closing its doors
CHEHALIS, Wash. -- A long-time hardware store here is closing its doors.
Thurman is a fixture around Chehalis and seemed to survive everything. In 1996, a flood left 14 inches of water inside. Then, in 2007, a bigger flood brought 3 feet of water and $200,000 worth of damages.
"We were not insured, so it was financially devastating for us," said store manager Roger Phillips. " But the owner decided to go ahead and rebuild."
Others were flooded too; they needed what Thurman sells. Business thrived.
But while hardware stores can survive floods, what they can't survive is dry spells where nobody is building anything.
New construction permits around here are down 90 percent, so it's time for deals and goodbyes.
Long time customer Mike Thomas got a $200 blower for $50, part of a $6,000 tab.
"I could not resist," he said. "The discounted prices were very, very fair and I'm a discount shopper by nature."
The 20 or so employees are too busy to worry about their next job. Well, almost.
"Am I worried? Maybe a little bit," said store salesman Ivy Hoke. "Yeah, didn't take a point of going looking for a job, you know."
The unemployment rate in Lewis County is currently 15 percent, but Phillips says his crew is great and he's optimistic they'll find jobs.
Thirteen months ago, John Halvorsen closed his rental store and laid off 26.
"We know each other by name and I know they're hurting," Halvorsen said. "I came down to support them and say goodbye."
In fact, that's why many are coming. Not for values, but to say goodbye.
Thurman is a fixture around Chehalis and seemed to survive everything. In 1996, a flood left 14 inches of water inside. Then, in 2007, a bigger flood brought 3 feet of water and $200,000 worth of damages.
"We were not insured, so it was financially devastating for us," said store manager Roger Phillips. " But the owner decided to go ahead and rebuild."
Others were flooded too; they needed what Thurman sells. Business thrived.
But while hardware stores can survive floods, what they can't survive is dry spells where nobody is building anything.
New construction permits around here are down 90 percent, so it's time for deals and goodbyes.
Long time customer Mike Thomas got a $200 blower for $50, part of a $6,000 tab.
"I could not resist," he said. "The discounted prices were very, very fair and I'm a discount shopper by nature."
The 20 or so employees are too busy to worry about their next job. Well, almost.
"Am I worried? Maybe a little bit," said store salesman Ivy Hoke. "Yeah, didn't take a point of going looking for a job, you know."
The unemployment rate in Lewis County is currently 15 percent, but Phillips says his crew is great and he's optimistic they'll find jobs.
Thirteen months ago, John Halvorsen closed his rental store and laid off 26.
"We know each other by name and I know they're hurting," Halvorsen said. "I came down to support them and say goodbye."
In fact, that's why many are coming. Not for values, but to say goodbye.
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