Ortonville- James Lumber is not going away.
That’s the message from Doug Graham, grandson of company founder John R. James and one of the family owners, following an announcement last week of a plan that includes closing five of their six area locations. The closing includes the Ortonville location.
‘Our business has gone full-circle we’re going back to one store in Flint,? said Graham. This is the worse year the lumber company has had since the Great Depression’the business is just not out there.?
The consolidation is due to a 30 percent decline in business since 2004, said Graham coupled with contractors having a hard time paying their bills and some bankruptcies in the building trade which James Lumber has been part of for more than 80 years.
‘Business is a lot worse than people think. I’m worried a lot more people are going to lose their jobs before this economy turns around’it’s starting to hit home. It’s a whole lot worse then the politicians let on.?
James Lumber officials first planned the Ortonville store in 1999 following an extensive demographic study that indicated the store location along M-15 would be outstanding. The company purchased the vacant the 21,000 square-foot Hamady Brothers grocery store building and following extensive remolding opened the facility on April 17, 2001.
‘We had one good summer here in Ortonville and that was the summer just before Sept. 11,? said Graham. ‘The store employed about 12 to15, but should have employed about 36 workers.?
Graham said James Lumber employed about 109 but following the consolidation only about 25 will remain, mostly in outside contractor sales. James Lumber business was split about 50/50 between the retail business and contractors.
‘It’s hard to say goodbye to some of our employees who had been with us for more than 30 years,? added Graham.
Graham says that James Lumber holds the oldest active builder’s license in the Flint area, and while it’s understandable why people just can’t afford to build right now due to the economy, it’s still a great time to buy lumber.
‘Lumber is a commodity and right now it’s at 1994 prices,? said Graham. For example you can buy a 4-by-8 sheet of 7/8 inch plywood right now for $6.50. But you just can’t make any profit for that amount.?
Founded by John R. James in 1926, the first store opened at the site of the Flint Cultural Center. About one year later the store moved to the corner of Dort Highway and Robert T.Longway. Since then the business has grown to include six locations, James Lumber 2519, Fenton Road opened in 1938; James Lumber, Grand Blanc Road opened in 1955; James Lumber Clio Road opened 1976; Oxford James Lumber, 73 E. Burdick St. opened in 1995 and Ortonville James Lumber, 700 Ortonville Road. which opened in 2001.
The James Lumber stores will remain open for liquidation