James Lumber is closing its Oxford store and possibly other locations as part of a consolidation plan to survive the state’s poor economy.
‘At some point it will be (closing). It won’t be soon,? said Doug Graham, Jr., one of the owners of James Lumber. ‘It won’t be in the immediate future.?
The Oxford store on E. Burdick St. was closed Nov. 11-15, while employees took inventory and marked down prices on everything in the store.
A huge hot pink banner reading ‘Total Stock Liquidation: Every Item on Sale? was affixed to the front of the building.
The store is set to re-open 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 16.
Graham said the Oxford location will close permanently ‘within the next six months or so.?
‘It may be sooner than six months. It’s certainly not going to be in two weeks,? he noted.
However, it’s been reported by customers that employees are saying they were told the store will close within about 60 days depending on how quickly the remaining inventory is sold.
Given the lumber yard’s stock is extremely low and some sold-out inventory inside the store was never restocked, it’s reported employees told customers they believe the time frame for closing could be as soon as 30 days.
James Lumber purchased the Oxford store in 1995. Prior to that, it was the Oxford Lumber Co., owned by the late Gerald Olrich.
As for the company’s other locations, Graham said, ‘We haven’t decided on all of them. We’re not sure exactly what’s happening there yet.?
‘I don’t have all the details worked out yet,? he said. ‘We’re planning on doing a press release (this) week.?
A family owned and operated business since 1926, James Lumber spans Genesee and Oakland counties with locations in Oxford, Ortonville, Grand Blanc and two in Flint.
Graham noted the company is not going under. ‘We’re not bankrupt or anything like that,? he said. ‘We are not closing our doors.?
‘We are consolidating to our main headquarters on Fenton Road in Flint,? Graham explained. ‘The goal is to consolidate to our main core business which is contractor sales and installed sales.?
Hard times are the driving force behind this consolidation.
‘It’s a bad economy,? Graham said. ‘It’s slow everywhere.?
‘We are consolidating in anticipation of a very slow winter,? he added.
Given that this year’s extremely soft housing market has undercut both builders and suppliers, James Lumber isn’t the only one suffering.
Last week, Banner Lumber Co. in Detroit announced it’s closing.
Family owned and operated for more than 50 years, S&M Lumber Co. in Flushing closed its doors in July.